Impressive win reveals scary truth about 'confident' Aussies
The Aussies are on the board at CWC25 after facing pressure moments against New Zealand with brutal conviction.
New Zealand's belief was growing.
After removing Annabel Sutherland to have Australia 113/4 in the 19th over, the White Ferns could feel first innings ascenancy. But that wicket triggered the arrival of Ash Gardner. And despite dismissing Beth Mooney a few overs later, New Zealand still had a mountain of hard work ahead of them.
"That's Australia for you, isn't it?" New Zealand captain Sophie Devine said post-game.
Devine was referring to the Aussies' ruthless depth in all departments, but particularly their batting lineup. With every wicket the White Ferns took, another capable batter entered the crease, with several lower-order options playing their role as Gardner smashed 16 fours and a six to compile a quality 115 from 83 balls.
"They bat so deep and we know the talent that they've got, even Kim Garth coming in at nine, she looked like a really good batter and thats the thing, you just can't take your foot off the throat with them because they bat all the way to 11," she continued.
Kim Garth gets Australia to 300 in style | Rexona POTD | CWC25
Stylish shot from Garth.
The reigning champions posted 326, which was too steep a mountain to climb, despite Devine's best efforts, eventually completing an 89-run victory in Indore to get into the winner's books at the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup.
"I think if I look at our lineup, we have so much confidence and clarity of what everyone's role is," Player of the Match Gardner said post-game.
"For me, batting in the middle-order, sometimes I'll go in when we're 250 and I get to tee off. But then, sometimes like what happened today, (it's) four for - I think - 120 when I went in. So there's both ends of the spectrum.
"The best thing about this side is we genuinely bat all the way down and we've spoken about, 'were there nerves when I went out at four for not many,' but I've got the confidence in our lower-order that they can do a job and you were just able to look at Kim Garth today, she's certainly not a... I think she came in at nine (in the lineup).
Australia's World Cup campaign off to a winning start | Match Highlights | CWC25
Australia seal a dominant win over New Zealand in their first game at the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025.
"(Garth) has an amazing technique and one that can score all the way around the ground and I think the conversations with them were, 'play to your strengths, don't go into your shell,' because I think that would naturally put more pressure on me, (but) they took the pressure off me straight away. So to bat with the lower-order was actually really fun. (She) played a brilliant innings and I think that was the difference in the end, which got us over that 300 mark.
It was also Sophie Molineux's second game back from a long injury layoff and, with the ball particularly, she made an instant impact, taking 3/25 off 8.2 overs.
"It was awesome (her taking a wicket in her first over)," Gardner continued.
Ash Gardner reflects on Australia's win over New Zealand | Post-match Press Conference | CWC25
Ash Gardner was happy to play her role after she scored her second ODI century in an impressive victory over New Zealand at the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup
"Soph's one of the hardest workers I know and she's had a really bad streak of injuries, but to see her resilience is just a testament to her character as a person and her willingness to push herself to the extent of trying to get back into this side and she's put (in) countless hours off the field to get her body in the best place to perform on the field. So to see her have an impact straight away ... just so pumped for her."
Australia has little time between games as they now turn their attention to a key clash this Saturday in Colombo. They will take on Sri Lanka, with a chance to lay strong foundations for their World Cup title defence and move to two-from-two in the early stages of the tournament.
