The virtual quaꦬrter-final fixture in Group A between defending champions Australia and contenders New Zealand was played at Junction Oval in Melbourne on Monday (March 2).
The White Ferns backed themselves to chase down the to🍬tal after winning the toss, despite falling short by a whisker against India in their second game of the tournament.
Opener Beth Mooney’s 50-ball 60 steered the hosts towards an above par score of 155 in 20 overs. Captain Meg Lanning and Ashleigh👍 Gardner gave ample support to the left-hander to lay a foundation for the likes of Elysee Perry and Rachel Haynes, who provided the finishing impetus.
Beth Mooney. What a player.
— Australian Women's Cricket Team 🏏 (@AusWomenCricket)
However, their issues against slow-bowling were exposed yet again with Amelia Kerr (1/22) and Anna Peterson (2/31) putting brakes on Ausꦦtralia’s charge.
After losing the wicket of their hard-hitting opener, Rachel Priest, who gave quick ꧅start to the chase, it was up to their two most experienced campaigners.
The💮 stage was perfectly set for Suzie Bates and Devine to take Ne🍰w Zealand home with the score at 53/1, by the end of eight over.
Moreover, it all changed when Georgia Waꦑreham was handed the ball. The leggie turned the match around for Australia as she picked up three quick wickets during her spell, giving ෴away only 17 to cause havoc in the Kiwi dugout.
Georgia Wareham finishes her four overs 3-17.
WHAT A SPELL! 🐺🐺🐺
— Australian Women's Cricket Team 🏏 (@AusWomenCricket)
None of New Zealand’s threatened to chase down the Australiaꦿn total since, barring Katey Martin, who took the game deep with her knock 31, which came offℱ just 17 deliveries.
Martins was left with too much to do, in the end, as Australia edged past New Zealand by four runs to book yet anot𓃲her semi-finals berth in the competition.
New Zealand suffered another loss despite getting heart-wrenchingly close to the ꧋total. Georgia Waꦡreham was adjudged as the Player of the Match.
The four semi-finalists! Who are you backing to take home the tr♔ophy?
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4)— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup)
