Gardner fires as Australia go 1-0 up in T20I series

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Sent in to bat, New Zealand got off to a slow start with Tayla Vlaeminck bowling a maiden over to kick off things. Openers Sophie Devine and Hayley Jensen quickly recovered and added 33 runs but were soon undone by a terrific Jess Jonassen. Devine was caught after miscuing Jonassen straight to deep midwicket. In the same over, Jonassen struck again after Jensen skied a short ball, which was caught comfortably by the wicket-keeper.

Despite the setback, Amy Satterthwaite and Amelia Kerr paired to rebuild New Zealand’s innings. The duo stitched together a 58-run partnership looking to put New Zealand's innings back on track. Satterthwaite's (40) efforts came to an end after she fell to Nicola Carey, Katey Martin shortly followed her back to the pavilion after she was trapped lbw by Jonassen. Amelia Kerr (20) failed to convert her good start into a big score as she was dismissed by Georgia Wareham.

Maddy Green and Brooke Halliday put up a 25-run partnership for the sixth wicket, pushing New Zealand’s total to 130/6.

In the chase, Frances Mackay helped the hosts to a perfect start, getting Alyssa Healy caught at point in the first over. Jess Kerr then had Beth Mooney dismissed for a duck in the next over, Kerr picked up another wicket after Rachael Haynes lobbed a short ball to mid-on.

At 14/3, captain Meg Lanning and Ashleigh Gardner connected in the middle with an objective of stabilising the Australian innings. The pair put on a fighting partnership of 48 runs, which Amelia Kerr eventually broke when she had Lanning caught at long-on.

However, the loss of Lanning’s wicket didn’t stop Gardner’s onslaught as she raced to a half-century in just 37 balls. With the help of Ellyse Perry, the pair combined for 71runs.

Gardner smashed an unbeaten 48-ball 73 and Ellyse Perry (23*) played the perfect second fiddle to guide Australia to a comfortable win.