Women’s World Cup: Alyssa Healy and Ashleigh Gardner assist Australia beat New Zealand by 97 runs

Australia started its Women’s T20 World Cup protection with a strong 97-run win over New Zealand on Saturday to underline its standing as the highest workforce on the planet.

Australia posted 173-9 after being put in to bat at Boland Park in Paarl, with 55 from opener Alyssa Healey, 41 from captain Meg Lanning and 40 from Ellyse Perry.

Australia bowled New Zealand out for 76 in 14 overs, its lowest whole on the World Cup and third lowest within the Twenty20s.

Ashleigh Gardner bowls her means into the #T20WorldCup historical past books! #AUSvNZ pic.twitter.com/2KSe26mzB8

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) February 11, 2023

The Aussie bowlers labored their means shortly by means of New Zealand’s batting, beginning with tempo bowler Megan Schutt eradicating each openers for geese within the first over.

Spinner Ashleigh Gardner took over and ran by means of New Zealand’s center and decrease order for career-best figures of 5-12 from three overs.

“That (win) was set up by our batters, who gave us a bit of flexibility with the ball,” Gardner stated. “We started off exactly the way we wanted to.”

Four wickets for Ashleigh Gardner!

One wicket away from the win #AUSvNZ #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/HfZie0s8KG

— Australian Women’s Cricket Team 🏏 (@AusWomenCricket) February 11, 2023

The dominant efficiency reminded everybody why the Aussies have gained 5 of the seven previous Women’s T20 World Cups, together with the final two, and are outright favorites to make it six titles in eight tournaments.

England, the world’s No. 2-ranked workforce, began its event earlier Saturday in sweltering sizzling Paarl with a robust batting show to beat West Indies by seven wickets.

The previous lady’s nonetheless received it! 🥰

Megan Schutt will get each Suzie Bates AND Sophie Devine within the very first over of the chase!#T20WorldCup #AUSvNZ pic.twitter.com/bCDFMpqCqG

— Australian Women’s Cricket Team 🏏 (@AusWomenCricket) February 11, 2023

West Indies made 135-7 and England chased it down comfortably, with 40 not out from Nat Sciver-Brunt and 32 not out from captain Heather Knight.

Their unbeaten 67-run stand ensured the English cruised to 138-3 in 14.3 overs.

Australia goes to the highest of Group 1 on web run fee forward of Sri Lanka, which pulled off an enormous shock to beat host South Africa on opening evening Friday.

England leads Group 2, the place the main target might be on Sunday when India performs Pakistan in one other instalment of their fierce cricket rivalry.