Australia registered a comprehensive 20-run win over New Zealand in the final match of the women’s Twenty20 series at the MCG on Friday to complete an emphatic 4-1 victory.
The Southern Stars made 7-129 after skipper Jodie Fields won the toss and elected to bat on a hard, fast wicket and then restricted the White Ferns to 7-109.
Australian allrounder Ellyse Perry was named player of the match for her double of 24 not out from 20 balls and 1-21 from four overs, while team-mate Lisa Sthalekar was named player of the series.
Opener Alyssa Healy top-scored for the hosts with 30, and her 34-run partnership with Rachel Haynes (15) steadied Australia after the loss of two early wickets.
Haynes fell in Melissa Doolan’s opening over to a freakish one-handed outfield catch by Maddy Green, who sprinted 40 metres to intercept Haynes’ lofted off drive.
In reply, six of New Zealand’s top seven batters made it into double figures, but no one made a significant contribution to ever genuinely threaten the winning target.
Katie Perkins (22) was the best with the bat for the White Ferns to go with her 2-18 opening the bowling, while Julie Hunter (2-15) and Erin Osborne (2-19) were the multiple wicket-takers for the hosts.