Australia have won the women's T20 series 2-0 against New Zealand after the third match in Sydney was abandoned without a ball being bowled past the powerplay. Rain ended play at North Sydney Oval, with New Zealand at 2-11 when the players left the field. Australia retain the Rose Bowl trophy, which they have held for more than 26 years. The two sides meet again in a three-game one-day series in Canberra and Melbourne in March.
Australia retained the Rose Bowl with a 40-run win over New Zealand in the second Twenty20 at North Sydney Oval, taking a 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Ash Gardner's 84 from 45 balls led Australia to 6-167, and Georgia Wareham took 3-18 as New Zealand finished on 8-127. The result extended Australia's winning run to 12 T20 matches. Captain Sophie Molineux was credited by Gardner for building a positive team culture. The decisive third match is scheduled for Thursday.
Ashleigh Gardner hit 84 from 45 deliveries and took two wickets as Australia beat New Zealand by 40 runs in the second women's T20 international in Sydney. Australia posted 7-167 at North Sydney Oval, with Beth Mooney scoring 37. Georgia Wareham took 3-18 as New Zealand were restricted to 8-127. The win means Australia have retained the Rose Bowl with one match to play. The series finale is on Thursday night.
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Australia have been asked to bat first in the second women's T20I against New Zealand at North Sydney Oval after losing the toss. Phoebe Litchfield returns from a low-grade hip strain, replacing Tahlia McGrath in the side. Australia lost the opening match by two wickets, and New Zealand need to win the series to end a long gap in trans-Tasman T20I wins. New Zealand opener Georgia Plimmer hit a career-best 85 not out in the first game. The series decider is set for Thursday, October 22.
Georgia Plimmer produced an unbeaten 85 from 68 balls against Australia at North Sydney Oval, the best T20 innings of her career. Her knock lifted New Zealand to 2-162 in the opening match, which Australia won by two wickets. The retirements of Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine and Lea Tahuhu after the T20 World Cup have left the White Ferns searching for new leaders. Plimmer said the whole squad must share responsibility, not one player. She also pointed to fielding lapses in recent tournaments, which the side hopes to correct before the next matches in Sydney.
Georgia Wareham has added death bowling to her role for Australia in T20 internationals. She bowled the final over of New Zealand's innings in the opening match at North Sydney Oval, conceding just seven runs. Wareham said Australia have made improving their death overs a priority since the T20 World Cup. She was also the tournament's most economical bowler, and Australia will aim to secure the series and the Rose Bowl trophy in the second match on Tuesday.
Australia beat New Zealand by two wickets in the opening women's T20 international at North Sydney Oval. Georgia Plimmer scored an unbeaten 85 to help the White Ferns reach 2-162. Australia were well placed at 2-102 after 10 overs, but lost six wickets for 57 runs before Tahlia McGrath and Kim Garth finished the chase with seven balls to spare. Australia lead the three-match series 1-0. The second match is on Tuesday, with the third on Thursday.
The Australian women's cricket team, reigning T20 World Cup champions, will host New Zealand in a three-match T20 series in Sydney. The first match is on Sunday, October 18, at North Sydney Oval, with the next two on October 20 and 22. Captain Sophie Molineux and Lucy Hamilton are fit to return, while Phoebe Litchfield is being monitored after a hip strain. New Zealand will be without several players, and Dean Brownlie will serve as interim head coach. The series is played for the Rose Bowl trophy.
Sophie Molineux has declared herself fit to captain Australia in Sunday's Rose Bowl T20I against New Zealand at North Sydney Oval. She missed the Bangladesh one-dayers with a hip injury. Phoebe Litchfield, who strained a hip muscle, is doubtful and did not attend training on Friday. Lucy Hamilton is also in contention after playing for the Governor-General's XI. Molineux said selection decisions will be difficult given the depth of the squad. The three-match series runs from Sunday to Thursday.
The Rose Bowl will now be contested in every bilateral women's series between Australia and New Zealand, beginning with a three-match T20 series at North Sydney Oval from Sunday. Since 1985 the trophy has been tied to one-day series, and Australia have held it since February 2000. Australian captain Sophie Molineux said the change adds excitement to the rivalry. If a tour includes both formats, the winner will be the side with more victories across them, with ties leaving the trophy with its holders.