Follow UsAustralian women showed the power of their unparalleled depth in resources and skill in their first game of the Women’s ODI World Cup when they recovered from 128/5 in 21.2 overs to post 326 all out after batting first in Indore against New Zealand.
Australia started their innings in aggressive fashion with Phoebe Litchfield scoring boundaries with ease; however, wickets kept falling at regular intervals as Melie Kerr first, and then Lea Tahuhu, continued to chip in with wickets. Alyssa Healy, Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Annabel Sutherland, and Beth Mooney had already returned to dressing room when Tahlia McGrath joined Ashleigh Gardner at the crease.
Gardner was much more sedate than what fans are accustomed to seeing from her. She kept scoring boundaries and notched up a 64-run partnership in just 65 deliveries with McGrath. After McGrath was dismissed, she added 47 runs in just 35 deliveries with Sophie Molineux and then 69 in just 53 deliveries with Kim Garth.
By now, not only was she scoring down the ground, but she had started to use her feet as well and brought up her 100 in just 77 deliveries with a scintillating extra cover drive off Sophie Devine. She continued her carnage for six more deliveries and added 15 runs in that.
At the end, her innings, combined with lower-order contributions, was enough to take Australia to 326 all out in 49.3 overs, which looks like a winning total in Indore.