Women’s World Cup: Gardner outshines Devine as Australia launch title defence with emphatic win (ld)
Ashleigh Gardner lit up the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup opener with a stunning 115, powering Australia to an 89-run win over New Zealand at Holkar Stadium in Indore. The defending champions kicked off their title defense in style, showcasing why they’re top favorites in women’s cricket.
Australia chose to bat first and got off to a flying start. Captain Alyssa Healy and opener Phoebe Litchfield smashed an 81-run partnership, thrilling the 8,900 fans in the stands. Litchfield fired 45 off just 31 balls before Amelia Kerr’s clever googly bowled her. Healy fell soon after, caught at cover off Bree Illing.
That brought a shaky phase as Australia slipped from 108 for 2 to 128 for 5, thanks to sharp bowling from Lea Tahuhu and Jess Kerr, who each grabbed three wickets. But Gardner stepped up at number six, smashing her maiden World Cup century—her second in ODIs overall. She faced 83 balls, hit 16 fours and a six at a strike rate of 138.55, and became the first player to score a ton batting that low in a women’s ODI World Cup.
Gardner built key stands: 64 with Tahlia McGrath, 47 with Sophie Molineux, and 69 with Kim Garth. Her clean hitting turned the game, helping Australia post 326 all out in 49.3 overs—the highest total in the tournament so far. New Zealand’s bowlers fought back with Amelia Kerr and Bree Illing taking two wickets each.
In the chase, New Zealand crumbled early. Georgia Plimmer ran out for a duck in a mix-up with Suzie Bates, who also fell for zero after edging onto her stumps off Molineux. Amelia Kerr and Sophie Devine fought back with a 75-run stand, but leg-spinner Alana King struck twice to remove Kerr for 33 and Brooke Halliday.
Another run-out—New Zealand’s second—saw Maddy Green go, and Izzy Gaze’s quick 28 in a 50-run partnership with Devine offered brief hope. But as the required rate soared, Gaze holed out off Molineux. Devine kept them alive with a brilliant 112 off 100 balls—12 fours and three sixes—reaching 4,000 women’s ODI runs and her ninth century.
The end came fast in the 43rd over. Annabel Sutherland took three wickets, including Devine after her six, plus Jess Kerr and Eden Carson. Molineux sealed it by getting Bree Illing, bowling New Zealand out for 237 in 43.2 overs. Sutherland and Molineux both finished with 3-26 and 3-25.
This marks Australia’s 16th straight ODI win over New Zealand, underlining their dominance in trans-Tasman clashes.
Brief scores: Australia 326 all out in 49.3 overs (Ashleigh Gardner 115, Phoebe Litchfield 45; Lea Tahuhu 3-42, Jess Kerr 3-59) beat New Zealand 237 all out in 43.2 overs (Sophie Devine 112, Amelia Kerr 33; Sophie Molineux 3-25, Annabel Sutherland 3-26) by 89 runs.
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