Australia survive scare to take series lead against New Zealand

Despite Ellyse Perry coming clutch like she usually does, Australia limped their way in a chase of New Zealand's 162/2, before ekeing out a two-wicket win with seven balls to spare in Sydney in the T20I series opener. Australia were cruising until Jess Kerr dismissed Perry in the 11th, triggering a collapse. New Zealand was able to pull off a last-minute heist despite Australia's decline from 102/3 to 145/7.

Opening batsman Georgia Plimmer's (85 off 68 balls) and two-drop batter Maddy Green's (56* off 37 balls) efforts helped New Zealand complete their impressive innings, adding 127 runs for the third wicket in just 80 balls. Despite losing Flora Devonshire in the third over and Amelia Kerr immediately after the Powerplay, New Zealand found stability and a steady flow of runs through the two half-centurions.

Plimmer hit Lucy Hamilton for a hat trick of fours in the ninth over, and Green hit Ashleigh Gardner for a pair in the next. Both of these players hit boundaries in the middle overs. They took New Zealand to 108/2 in 15 overs and then got 54 off the last 30 balls. In the 17th over, green hit two fours and a six, and Kim Garth had to face the music.

Australia lost Georgia Voll on the second ball of chase but flew in the Powerplay through Beth Mooney and Perry, who took them to 57/1. After the field restrictions were lifted as well, they continued at 10-an-over, bringing the team to 85/1 in eight overs, putting Australia well ahead of the eight-ball. Mooney was then dismissed with a run out in the ninth over while Perry fell an over after getting to a 27-ball fifty.

That wicket opened avenues for New Zealand: In the 12th over, Amelia Kerr sent Georgia Wareham packing. Annabel Sutherland hit back by smashing two fours and a six in her following over but Jess Kerr's double-wicket over in the 15th put the game back on the knife's edge. An over later, Australia were down to 150/7 - needing 13 more. The number was down to three when Mair cleaned up Sophie Molineux. It wasn't enough to spark the come from behind victory as Kim Garth saw the chase through in the 19th over.