Australia women took an unassailable lead in the three-match T20 series as they beat New Zealand by six wickets in the second game in Brisbane. Having won the toss for the second time in the series, Meg Lanning opted to bowl first and restricted New Zealand to 145/8 in 20 overs irrespective of Suzie Bates brilliant performance with a score of 77. Australia chased down the target comprehensively with six wickets in hand in 18.5 overs.
Bowling first, Megan Schutt gave the perfect start for Australia as she took a couple of wickets in her opening spell leaving New Zealand 17/2 in 3.1 overs. Captain Satterthwaite joined Suzie Bates scored 60 runs in the next six overs. The middle order couldn’t contribute much to the total after Satterthwaite departed the scene. Bates continued to battle at the other end till Ellyse Perry dismissed her at the end of 15th over for 77 off 52 balls. New Zealand lost the momentum and could add only 24 runs in the last five overs. Megan Schutt was the pick of the bowler for Aussies with three wickets for 15 runs in her four overs.
Australia didn’t have the best start for their chase as opener Beth Mooney fell in the second over for naught. Alyssa Healy and Gardner added 36 runs for the second wicket in 22 balls. Alyssa and Villani’s partnership added 57 runs before the Australian wicket-keeper was dismissed by Devine for 57 off 41 balls. Villani then took control of the chase along with Meg Lanning added another 50 runs to take them 144. Amelia Kerr dismissed Australian captain for 19 with two runs required for the win. Villani scored the winning runs with a boundary towards deep midwicket and also completed her half-century.
Final T20 will be in the capital city Canberra on Friday, 5th October. Australia will be aiming a whitewash against the neighbors with another clinical win in the third game. New Zealand has to put up a show for a consolation win in the series in the dead rubber.
