White Ferns strike winning blueprint
Let’s not fuss that this was a supposed ‘dead rubber’ – the White Ferns’ win over Australia on Wednesday was a significant moment for the side.
It broke a 13-game losing streak against their trans-tasman rivals and provided a potential blueprint as to how make that result amore regular occurrence.
Following two hesitant displays in the first two Twenty20 internationals in Brisbane, the New Zealand women’s side took the game to the hosts from the outset, stuck to their guns and then held their nerve to get on board in the six-match tour.
After expressing doubts of their ability to defeat Australia following the second T20 defeat on Sunday, I’d opined that the tourists ‘‘need to be bold . . . to throw the favourites off their stride and take control at times, rather than hoping to just stay in the contest and grab a close one.
‘‘For the White Ferns to prosper, a lot hangs on their star performers being at their best and therefore having a significant impact.’’
Both things happened on Wednesday.
Two changes to the XI saw Jess Kerr and Holly Huddleston replace Lauren Down and Rosemary Mair and skipper Sophie Devine made use of them immediately.
Kerr set the tone – her prodigious inswing stifled star opener Alyssa Healy and a maiden over had the Ferns with their tails up.
Huddleston wasn’t effective, conceding seven from her first over, and never returned to the bowling crease as Devine worked through her arsenal – including her own seamers, with a beauty accounting for Beth Mooney.
New Zealand constantly picked up scalps on a tired pitch which made heavy scoring difficult, restricting Australia’s batting potency by breaking partnerships – no home team batter faced more than 23 balls.
Legspinner Amelia Kerr, who looked to be rounding into form in Sunday’s defeat, took 2-18 and a chase for 124 seemed achievable.
Devine stuck to her strengths as her 25 off 22 balls ensured Australia would struggle to apply run-rate pressure.
Amy Satterthwaite looked in great touch on Sunday and resumed where she left off, with a critical 30 off 25 balls as Australia’s quality spinners and medium-pacers sought to strangle New Zealand’s victory push.
With the result still in the balance in the final 10 balls, Amelia Kerr – still a teenager, yet with 67 international appearances – struck three boundaries from four deliveries to break the stranglehold Australia have had in recent years.
‘‘It must be something in the Kerr family, nerves of steel,’’ Devine told Cricinfo.
‘‘The world is her oyster. I know she wants to bat up the order in time but the great thing is she’s only 19 or something ridiculous so she’s got all the time in the world to figure out where she wants to be.’’
Devine also praised Kerr’s older sister Jess for the start she gave her side.
‘‘It was great for her – that’s what you want from any player that comes into the team is to make an impact and she did it straight away against one of the world’s best batters.’’
Further good news for the Ferns is that there is room for improvement.
Satterthwaite’s drop of Meg Lanning when facing her first ball could have been more costly and fielding remains an area where the tourists could be sharper – Australia take far too many singles when the ball is struck directly to fielders inside the circle.
The hosts still remain warm favourites to win the three-game one-day series which starts tomorrow – they’re a well-balanced unit with plenty of potential matchwinners.
But Wednesday showed when New Zealand’s stars come to the fore, there’s now a greater chance of grabbing the Rose Bowl trophy for the first time this century.