- Perry powers nervy Australia to 1-0 lead There were several twists with Australia losing regular wickets to slump to 145 for 7 in the 163 chase The three who matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins The three who matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins, India vs Australia, World Cup, Chennai, October 8, 2023 But a rid half-century from Ellyse Perry helped Australia overcome a plucky new-look New Zealand and draw first blood in the three-match series.
- Perry smashed 52 off 30 balls as Australia chased down the 163-run target with seven balls to spare on a flat North Sydney Oval surface.
- But there were several twists with Australia losing regular wickets to slump to 145 for 7 in the 16th over.
Perry powers nervy Australia to 1-0 lead There were several twists with Australia losing regular wickets to slump to 145 for 7 in the 163 chase The three who matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins The three who matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins, India vs Australia, World Cup, Chennai, October 8, 2023 But a rid half-century from Ellyse Perry helped Australia overcome a plucky new-look New Zealand and draw first blood in the three-match series.
Perry smashed 52 off 30 balls as Australia chased down the 163-run target with seven balls to spare on a flat North Sydney Oval surface. But there were several twists with Australia losing regular wickets to slump to 145 for 7 in the 16th over. Skipper Sophie Molineux got Australia to the brink until missing an attempted l sweep and bowled by Rosemary Mair, with four runs still needed.
But Kim Garth stroked a beautiful square drive to the boundary as Australia claimed victory in a thriller. Australia were without batter Phoebe Litchfield, who was ruled out with a hip injury. She was replaced by Tahlia McGrath in Australia’s only change from the side that beat England in the T20 World Cup final in July.
Georgia Plimmer’s knock gave New Zealand a strong finish, Australia vs New Zealand, 1st women’s T20I, North Sydney, October 18, 2026 New Zealand can be encouraged by their new era after the retirements of stalwarts Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates and Lea Tahuhu. After being sent in to bat, New Zealand made a competitive 162 for 2 with opener Georgia Plimmer hitting a career-best 85 not out off 68 balls while Maddy Green stroked an unbeaten 56 off 37 balls. They combined for an unbroken 129-run partnership, but rued not throwing the bat earlier.
Australia would have been dispointed with their performance in the field despite restricting New Zealand to a seemingly middling total. Their chase started disastrously when Georgia Voll fell on the second ball of the innings after being trped lbw by an in-swinger from left-armer Bree Illing. She reviewed only to fall on an umpire’s call in a tight decision.
But Perry and Beth Mooney snuffed out New Zealand’s momentum with consistent boundaries mixed with hard-running in a quick 86-run partnership. Mooney was keen to make amends after a rough effort with the gloves, and she looked at ease despite enduring problems with her contact lenses, which she had to take out early in her innings. Her lack of vision did not seem to have any adverse effect, with Mooney and Perry trading blows.
Mooney seemed on course for a half-century until being dismissed on 38 when she was run out in strange fashion. She took off for a run that was not on after seemingly losing concentration amid a loud shout for lbw. The bizarre dismissal did not impact Perry, who fittingly reached her 27-ball half-century with a brilliant straight drive.
But Perry fell in tame fashion when she smashed a Jess Kerr long hop straight to deep backward square. Ashleigh Gardner made a cameo to get Australia closer before she fell lbw to Jess Kerr on review. Wickets kept falling, including Nicola Carey run out in a big mix up, as Australia threatened to botch it before limping over the line.
New Zealand’s inexperienced side peared set for a pummelling when Perry and Mooney were in full bloom. But they chipped away to keep their hopes of a major upset alive. Melie Kerr and Jess Kerr celebrate a wicket with their team-mates, Australia vs New Zealand, 1st women’s T20I, North Sydney, October 18, 2026 It didn’t eventuate, but skipper Melie Kerr will be encouraged by the young team she’s moulding.
Illing, in her 16th T20I, was dangerous with the new ball while Jess stepped up in key moments to finish with 3 for 25 off 4 overs. Australia’s selectors faced a major dilemma once left-arm quick Lucy Hamilton was declared fit after overcoming a hip injury, which had kept her out of the Bangladesh ODI series. Bring her back or stick with quick Megan Schutt, who had starred with 10 wickets from three matches against Bangladesh?
They opted for Hamilton, who could not repay the faith after finishing with 0-23 off 2 overs. She struggled to find her lengths after coming into the attack in the 4th over. While it didn’t go to plan with the ball, Hamilton did contribute with a blinder of a catch to dismiss Melie after diving forward at fine-leg.
Lucy Hamilton took a sharp diving catch running in from the deep, Australia vs New Zealand, 1st women’s T20I, North Sydney, October 18, 2026 It was the best moment in the field for Australia. Mooney had an uncharacteristically rough time with the gloves after a missed stumping and dropped catch while keeping up, reprieving Plimmer on 15 and 39. There was an unknown over how New Zealand’s inexperienced batting line-up would fare after the retirements of legendary Devine and Bates following the T20 World Cup.
They had a new opening combination of Plimmer and Flora Devonshire, who are both aged in their early 20s. It was an experiment on spinning allrounder Devonshire, who hadn’t batted in her previous three T20Is having been listed at No.9 in those games. But Devonshire lasted just four deliveries after being bowled through the gate by a cracking inswinger from Garth.
Much more experienced, with 55 T20Is to her name, Plimmer was determined to grab her opportunity having been dropped during New Zealand’s dispointing T20 World Cup campaign. Plimmer showed great intent and did not let bowlers settle. She shifted gears superbly after a slow start to reach her half-century off 40 balls.
She combined well with Green, who stepped up as her side’s most experienced player with sublime touch throughout a well-paced innings. Green put the foot down in the back-end, including 14 runs in a three-ball whirlwind off Carey, as she reached her half-century in 33 balls but it proved not enough. There were several twists with Australia losing regular wickets to slump to 145 for 7 in the 163 chase Ellyse Perry celebrates her fifty, Australia vs New Zealand, 1st women’s T20I, North Sydney, October 18, 2026 clean bowled through the gate!
103kph, good length, pitching on off, she skips down despite the keeper up and tries to launch over mid-on, it swings through the gate and crashes into the off bail. Not a great shot but a superb delivery with late swing from a perfect length Kim Garth broke the opening stand early, Australia vs New Zealand, 1st women’s T20I, North Sydney, October 18, 2026 what a catch by Hamilton at fine leg! Low full toss on off, she scoops again but goes leg side this time and it carries further off the bat than she wanted and Hamilton from a very fine fine leg charges in and dives full length to take a stunning catch sliding at full stretch across the turf!
Lucy Hamilton took a sharp diving catch running in from the deep, Australia vs New Zealand, 1st women’s T20I, North Sydney, October 18, 2026 Kim Garth broke the opening stand early, Australia vs New Zealand, 1st women’s T20I, North Sydney, October 18, 2026 clean bowled through the gate! 103kph, good length, pitching on off, she skips down despite the keeper up and tries to launch over mid-on, it swings through the gate and crashes into the off bail. Not a great shot but a superb delivery with late swing from a perfect length Lucy Hamilton took a sharp diving catch running in from the deep, Australia vs New Zealand, 1st women’s T20I, North Sydney, October 18, 2026 what a catch by Hamilton at fine leg!
Low full toss on off, she scoops again but goes leg side this time and it carries further off the bat than she wanted and Hamilton from a very fine fine leg charges in and dives full length to take a stunning catch sliding at full stretch across the turf! clean bowled through the gate! 103kph, good length, pitching on off, she skips down despite the keeper up and tries to launch over mid-on, it swings through the gate and crashes into the off bail.
Not a great shot but a superb delivery with late swing from a perfect length Kim Garth broke the opening stand early, Australia vs New Zealand, 1st women’s T20I, North Sydney, October 18, 2026 what a catch by Hamilton at fine leg! Low full toss on off, she scoops again but goes leg side this time and it carries further off the bat than she wanted and Hamilton from a very fine fine leg charges in and dives full length to take a stunning catch sliding at full stretch across the turf! Lucy Hamilton took a sharp diving catch running in from the deep, Australia vs New Zealand, 1st women’s T20I, North Sydney, October 18, 2026 given lbw!
Was this missing leg? It swung a long way. Full shing in, it caught Voll by surprise as it shed in.
It pitched on leg and was shing down the line. Did it she too far or is it clipping? Ball tracking has it clipping leg!
Australia keep the review. Superb delivery. Bree Illing sent Georgia Voll for a duck, Australia vs New Zealand, 1st women’s T20I, North Sydney, October 18, 2026 Mooney has run herself out!
Full and speared into middle from around the wicket, she tried to whip and was hit on the pad. There was a big peal for lbw given not out. Mooney took off for a run that was not on.
The ball had rolled to short third. Devonshire picked it up and fired at the striker’s and hit direct! She was well short.
If she didn’t hit the ball she was likely plumb lbw too. picks out deep backward square! Perry can’t believe it!
Rank long hop down leg, Perry pulls with power but hits it too flat and picks out Sharp on the rope who takes an excellent running catch! an peal for lbw given not out . New Zealand review.
If she didn’t hit this, it is very close. The peal was half-hearted. It looks plumb on the replay.
No bat trying to pull a length that could have been driven. It hits the back leg infront of middle and leg. Ball tracking shows three reds!
Gardner has to go. Looked very good live. sliced straight to point!
Shorter length outside off, the cut shot was on but she was just falling back a touch and sliced it off a thick outside edge straight to Patel at backward point holes out to deep backward square! Australia are botching this. Short down leg, Sutherland tries to launch it onto the hill and gets it off the toe, it falls just metres short of clearing the rope and Sharp takes another good catch Huge mix up!
Carey is BBQ’d by McGrath! Full on leg, she clips to midwicket and calls yes, Carey runs and then McGrath says no. Carey is stranded mid-pitch, Melie Kerr underarms to Patel and Australia are seven down!
bowled by a full toss! She tries to l sweep and misses! Shin high full toss, could have stood still and hit it back over the bowler’s head, instead steps inside the line to l sweep and misses and it crashes into off Bree Illing sent Georgia Voll for a duck, Australia vs New Zealand, 1st women’s T20I, North Sydney, October 18, 2026 given lbw!
Was this missing leg? It swung a long way. Full shing in, it caught Voll by surprise as it shed in.
It pitched on leg and was shing down the line. Did it she too far or is it clipping? Ball tracking has it clipping leg!
Australia keep the review. Superb delivery. picks out deep backward square!
Perry can’t believe it! Rank long hop down leg, Perry pulls with power but hits it too flat and picks out Sharp on the rope who takes an excellent running catch! an peal for lbw given not out .
New Zealand review. If she didn’t hit this, it is very close. The peal was half-hearted.
It looks plumb on the replay. No bat trying to pull a length that could have been driven. It hits the back leg infront of middle and leg.
Ball tracking shows three reds! Gardner has to go. Looked very good live.
holes out to deep backward square! Australia are botching this. Short down leg, Sutherland tries to launch it onto the hill and gets it off the toe, it falls just metres short of clearing the rope and Sharp takes another good catch bowled by a full toss!
She tries to l sweep and misses! Shin high full toss, could have stood still and hit it back over the bowler’s head, instead steps inside the line to l sweep and misses and it crashes into off sliced straight to point! Shorter length outside off, the cut shot was on but she was just falling back a touch and sliced it off a thick outside edge straight to Patel at backward point given lbw!
Was this missing leg? It swung a long way. Full shing in, it caught Voll by surprise as it shed in.
It pitched on leg and was shing down the line. Did it she too far or is it clipping? Ball tracking has it clipping leg!
Australia keep the review. Superb delivery. Bree Illing sent Georgia Voll for a duck, Australia vs New Zealand, 1st women’s T20I, North Sydney, October 18, 2026 Mooney has run herself out!
Full and speared into middle from around the wicket, she tried to whip and was hit on the pad. There was a big peal for lbw given not out. Mooney took off for a run that was not on.
The ball had rolled to short third. Devonshire picked it up and fired at the striker’s and hit direct! She was well short.
If she didn’t hit the ball she was likely plumb lbw too. picks out deep backward square! Perry can’t believe it!
Rank long hop down leg, Perry pulls with power but hits it too flat and picks out Sharp on the rope who takes an excellent running catch! sliced straight to point! Shorter length outside off, the cut shot was on but she was just falling back a touch and sliced it off a thick outside edge straight to Patel at backward point an peal for lbw given not out .
New Zealand review. If she didn’t hit this, it is very close. The peal was half-hearted.
It looks plumb on the replay. No bat trying to pull a length that could have been driven. It hits the back leg infront of middle and leg.
Ball tracking shows three reds! Gardner has to go. Looked very good live.
holes out to deep backward square! Australia are botching this. Short down leg, Sutherland tries to launch it onto the hill and gets it off the toe, it falls just metres short of clearing the rope and Sharp takes another good catch Huge mix up!
Carey is BBQ’d by McGrath! Full on leg, she clips to midwicket and calls yes, Carey runs and then McGrath says no. Carey is stranded mid-pitch, Melie Kerr underarms to Patel and Australia are seven down!
bowled by a full toss! She tries to l sweep and misses! Shin high full toss, could have stood still and hit it back over the bowler’s head, instead steps inside the line to l sweep and misses and it crashes into off There were several twists with Australia losing regular wickets to slump to 145 for 7 in the 163 chase Ellyse Perry celebrates her fifty, Australia vs New Zealand, 1st women’s T20I, North Sydney, October 18, 2026 Tahlia McGrath drives down the ground, Australia vs England, 2nd T20I, Women’s Ashes, Canberra, January 23, 2025 There were several twists with Australia losing regular wickets to slump to 145 for 7 in the 163 chase Ellyse Perry celebrates her fifty, Australia vs New Zealand, 1st women’s T20I, North Sydney, October 18, 2026 A view of the Allan Border field, Australia A v India A, 1st unofficial Test, Brisbane, 1st day, July 6, 2014 A panoramic view of the North Sydney Oval, India v New Zealand, Super Six, women’s World Cup, Sydney, March 17, 2009 A panoramic view of the North Sydney Oval, India v New Zealand, Super Six, women’s World Cup, Sydney, March 17, 2009 A panoramic view of the North Sydney Oval, India v New Zealand, Super Six, women’s World Cup, Sydney, March 17, 2009 A panoramic view of the North Sydney Oval, India v New Zealand, Super Six, women’s World Cup, Sydney, March 17, 2009 A panoramic view of the North Sydney Oval, India v New Zealand, Super Six, women’s World Cup, Sydney, March 17, 2009 A panoramic view of the North Sydney Oval, India v New Zealand, Super Six, women’s World Cup, Sydney, March 17, 2009 AUS Women vs NZ Women 2026/27, AUS-W vs NZ-W 1st T20I Match Report, October 18, 2026 – Perry powers nervy Australia to 1-0 lead AUS Women vs NZ Women 2026/27, AUS Women vs NZ Women Match Report: There were several twists with Australia losing regular wickets to slump to 145 for 7 in the 163 chase There were several twists with Australia losing regular wickets to slump to 145 for 7 in the 163 chase
