Australia has survived a dreadful collapse to claim a tense two-wicket victory over New Zealand in the opening Twenty20 International at North Sydney Oval.
The reigning T20 World Cup champions won with seven balls to spare, scoring 8-165 in reply to New Zealand’s 2-162 on Sunday night.
Number 10 Kim Garth faced eight balls without scoring before hitting a boundary to give Australia a 1-0 lead in the three-match Rose Bowl series, with the remaining matches at North Sydney Oval on Tuesday and Thursday.
Australia overcame the early LBW loss of Georgia Voll and were charging towards victory when star veteran Beth Mooney and Ellyse Perry were involved in a dreadful mix-up.
They had taken the score to 86 in just 8.2 overs when Mooney was struck on the pad and charged off for the most ambitious of runs.
Perry sent her back, Mooney was slow to turn, and was run out well short of her ground.
The loss of Mooney for 38 from just 25 balls prompted a collapse.
Perry raced to her equal fastest T20 half century in just 27 balls but on 52 dragged a short ball from Jess Kerr to deep backward square, where she was well caught by Issy Sharp running to her right.
Georgie Wareham (10 from 7 balls) sliced a leg-spinner and Kerr’s younger sister Amelia straight to point.
Ash Gardner (23 from 17) gave Jess Kerr her third wicket on review and Annabel Sutherland (9 from 5 balls) became her fourth, pulling a short ball to deep square leg.
Nicole Cary (4 from 3 balls) was run out by the recalled Tahlia McGrath and when captain Sophie Molineux (11 from 5 balls) fell, Australia had lost 7-62.
But the home side hung on for their 11th T20 win in a row, while the White Ferns have now lost six of their past nine matches.
Not even a record partnership and a record-equalling total in Australia could secure New Zealand victory.
After a difficult start by the White Ferns, Georgia Plimmer and Maddy Green combined for an unbeaten 127 in 80 balls.
Plimmer made a career-high 85 off 68 balls and Green 56 from 37 balls.
It was a breakout innings for the 22-year-old Plimmer, her fourth T20 half-century in 54 matches for New Zealand.
Going into the game she had an average of 16 and a strike rate of 104.
She was the beneficiary of two difficult chances, a stumping and catch from wicketkeeper Beth Mooney standing up to seamers Sutherland and Hamilton.
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