Better late than never
White Ferns win thriller off last ball and the thick inside edge flew fine for four as New Zealand chased down their target of 130 and celebrated wildly in the dugout.
Having lost eight of their last nine T20 internationals to Australia, the Ferns roared back from defeat in Hamilton to set up a decider at Eden Park tomorrow.
Missing an unwell Devine, allrounder Frankie Mackay stood up with a belligerent 46 off 39 at the top, then Green and Hannah Rowe finished the job.
When Australia’s star bowler Megan Schutt snared Brooke Halliday (1) and Amelia Kerr (36) in successive balls, the Ferns needed 21 off 12 and the pressure was right on at Mclean Park.
Rowe was the cool head they
Second women’s T20 international at Mclean Park, Napier:
off 20 overs (Beth Mooney 61no, Rachael Haynes 29; Frankie Mackay 2-20) lost to off 20 overs (Frankie Mackay 46, Amelia Kerr 36; Megan Schutt 2-24) by 4 wickets.
Level 1-1 with one to play. For coverage of the NZBangladesh men’s match, go to stuff.co.nz
needed, going 4, 2, 4, off Schutt’s final three balls to leave them needing nine off the last.
Green’s sweetly hit cover driven four off the first ball was the tension-breaker but Carey rallied to take it down to the final delivery.
Mackay played a big part with bat and ball despite being in increasing discomfort with a calf injury picked up in game one.
The White Ferns badly needed her after Hayley Jensen (3) missed out again, and stand-in skipper Amy Satterthwaite (6) chipped a soft catch to deep mid-wicket off Carey to make it 27-2.
Mackay and Kerr added 54 as the running between the wickets became increasingly painful, and Mackay had to call on her power game. She boomed two over the rope, the second fast and flat over mid-wicket before impressive 18-year-old debutant Darcie Brown got revenge for her first international wicket.
With Satterthwaite winning the toss and holding the controls it was an accurate, committed performance in the field as the White Ferns at least gave themselves a chance.
Beth Mooney (61 not out off 54 balls) anchored Australia’s innings of 129-4, batting through after playing and missing at a couple early from Rosemary Mair.
Jess Kerr and Rowe were excellent in the field, the former snaring the big wicket of Alyssa Healy (4) to a slick, juggling catch by Katey Martin standing up. Kerr then pounced for a run out of skipper Meg Lanning (27) after she’d blasted an 8om six off Rowe.
Australia 129-4
White Ferns 131-6
Series: