Twitter Reactions: Ellyse Perry's all-round brilliance takes Australia to huge win over New Zealand

Australia staged yet another victory in the 11th Match of the Women’s World Cup against New Zealand and it was an emphatic win as well. The Australian middle-order contributed immensely with bat and some poor death bowling from the hosts meant that the momentum shifted in the favour of the Women in Yellow. New Zealand have now lost two out of their four games now and will need to get their net run rate up in their next fixtures while Australia remains unbeaten.

Earlier in the day, New Zealand won the toss and opted to bowl first at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. The Australian openers took their time initially but couldn’t make significant contrubitions. The top three batters were dismissed for just 56 on the board in the 16th over. Beth Mooney (30) and Ellyse Perry stitched a crucial 57 -un partnership for the fourth wicket and once, Mooney was dismissed, Perry got another partnership going with Tahlia Mcgrath.

Both Perry and Mcgrath reached their half-century marks and were taking the game away from the hosts at one point. After a well made 68 off 86 balls, Perry was dismissed in the 45th over while McGrath followed her soon for a 56-ball 57. However, from nowhere, Ashleigh Gardner produced a gem of an innings and took the total to 269 on the board single-handedly in the last five overs.

She hit four sixes and as many fours in her 18-ball 48 and laid the much-needed momentum for the Women in Yellow. Lea Tahuhu picked up three wickets for the White Ferns and kept her impressive run in the Women’s World Cup so far.

New Zealand get off to a horrible start

In reply, the hosts got off to a horrible start as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals and were reduced to 35 for 5 in just the 12th over with half of the side gone. Amy Satterthwaite and Katey Martin tried to get the innings going with a 38-run partnership but Amanda Wellington removed Martin for 19. Satterthwaite had plenty to do on her own and after a 67-ball 44, she also lost her wicket and ended the hopes for the New Zealand side.

At the end, Australia won the game by a big margin of 141 runs and have gone past India’s net run rate as well. Darcie Brown who did the early damage for Australia with the ball finished with 3 for 22, while Gardner and Wellington picked up two wickets each. Perry was awarded the player of the match for her important 68 and for dismissing New Zealand skipper Sophie Devine.

Here’s how Twitter reacted to Australia’s win: