Perry, Molineux dismantle New Zealand for 3-0 sweep

Ahead of the game and leading into the ICC Women's World T20 in November, Meg Lanning, the Australia captain, had asked for a perfect game from her side. And while there were some lapses on the field at the Manuka Oval in Canberra on Friday, 5 October, it was still a dominant showing.

Ellyse Perry picked up four wickets and Sophie Molineux had three as they bowled New Zealand out for 103 in 19 overs. Alyssa Healy then blazed away to a half-century as the target was overhauled in 12.3 overs.

Perry and Molineux were both in line for hat-tricks at one point as they scripted a middle-order collapse. Four batters had to walk back for ducks even as Katey Martin (35* off 34) waged a lone battle.

Having put New Zealand in, Lanning opened with pace and the swing caused the batters all sorts of problems. Where Megan Schutt was tight, Delissa Kimmince struck with her very first delivery, foxing Sophie Devine with a bit of late movement.

Suzie Bates, targetting the area behind square, botched that attempt, nicking behind to Healy off Perry and the openers were gone for 32. Amy Satterthwaite, the captain, put together a partnership of 28 with Martin, but just when they had steadied the innings, Perry shook her stumps.

Rachael Haynes’ one-handed stunner running backwards gave Perry (4/21) another wicket the very next ball and there was no coming back for New Zealand.

They completely fell away in the middle-overs, with the left-arm spin from Molineux (3/11) joining the mix. It was only the last-wicket partnership of 19 that pushed the total into three figures.

The Australia openers were initially circumspect, the first five overs bringing only 24 runs. But having got their eye in, Healy especially took off.

She backed up her half-century in the previous game with 67 off 44 balls here, including 12 fours and a six. When she fell with the team total on 98, the main work was done, and it was enough for her to be declared Player of the Series.