Australia start World Cup title defence with win

ICC Women's World Cup, Indore

Australia 326 each retired (49.3 overs): Gardner 115 (83); Tahuhu 3-42

New Zealand 237 each retired (43.2 overs): Devine 112 (112); Molineux 3-26

Australia won by 89 runs

Scorecard; Table

Ash Gardner struck a superb lower-order period arsenic Australia began nan defence of their Women's World Cup title pinch an 89-run triumph complete New Zealand successful Indore.

The all-rounder helped her broadside retrieve aft they slipped to 128-5, striking 115 from 83 balls arsenic nan seven-time champions piled up 326.

New Zealand skipper Sophie Devine struck a defiant period of her ain aft coming successful pinch her broadside 0-2, and concisely threatened to resistance nan White Ferns to a singular victory.

She hammered 12 fours and 3 sixes successful her run-a-ball 112, but became nan first of 3 New Zealand wickets to autumn successful Annabel Sutherland's 43rd complete arsenic Australia snuffed retired immoderate chance of an opening defeat.

Phoebe Litchfield sewage Australia disconnected to a flying commencement aft Alyssa Healy won nan flip and chose to bat, firing a 31-ball 45 arsenic they reached 81-1 astatine nan extremity of nan powerplay.

However nan 22-year-old was bowled by Melie Kerr pinch nan first shot of nan 11th over, and Australia's complaint stalled until Gardner's arrival.

Coming successful astatine number six, Gardner marshalled partnerships of 64 and 69 pinch Tahlia McGrath and Kim Garth, earlier being caught down disconnected Bree Illing.

Devine's innings started slow arsenic she rebuilt pinch a 75-run pairing pinch Kerr, but she accelerated arsenic New Zealand reached nan 42-over people needing 91.

But Sutherland bowled nan seasoned all-rounder to commencement a accelerated extremity to nan match, pinch New Zealand losing their past 4 wickets for 2 runs to beryllium dismissed pinch 40 balls remaining.

Australia are nan squad to hit successful this tourney and Alyssa Healy's broadside showed signs of nan value that has seen them rack up truthful galore world titles.

While not astatine their champion against their Trans-Tasman rivals, nan overwhelming value of their line-up was capable to excavation their broadside retired of nan occasional holes they recovered themselves successful complete nan people of nan match.

Healy's broadside is star-studded, and beardown capable that it could omit Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham, Heather Graham and Megan Schutt, each players of capable value to beryllium signed arsenic overseas players successful nan caller Hundred season.

Gardner starred pinch 16 fours and 1 six successful her fierce innings, but she was supported by a little bid that bats deep, pinch McGrath (26), Sophie Molineux (14) and Garth (38) each chipping successful useful runs.

Molineux and Darcie Brown bowled superbly successful nan powerplay, pinch nan erstwhile bowling Suzie Bates successful nan 2nd complete aft Georgia Plimmer had been run-out without facing.

Alana King took nan important middle-order wickets of Melie Kerr and Brooke Halliday to deprive Devine of 2 imaginable semipermanent partners astatine nan crease, while Sutherland conceded conscionable 25 runs from her first 8 overs.

It was her ninth that brought nan crippled to its melodramatic conclusion, pinch nan all-rounder dismissing Devine past Jess Kerr and Eden Carson pinch consecutive deliveries for a triple-wicket maiden, earlier Molineux (3-25) wrapped up nan lucifer by having Illing caught down successful nan pursuing over.

New Zealand skipper Sophie Devine: "It is bittersweet. I would propulsion it each distant to make judge this squad won.

"I americium truthful proud of nan conflict this squad showed. We kept going and backing our strengths. I americium incredibly proud. The consequence did not spell our measurement but that doesn't matter."

Australia skipper Alyssa Healy: "It felt tighter astatine times than I would person liked!

"When Sophie [Devine] is location you ne'er know. Full in installments to our girls for hanging successful there.

"We made complete 300 and we were struggling done nan mediate there. As a batting group we will bespeak connected our dismissals and spot wherever we tin beryllium much precise and unafraid those 300-plus totals."