Australia edge past New Zealand by two wickets after Perry's fiery fifty

Perry's fifty keeps Australia in the hunt

Ellyse Perry came up clutch once again as Australia scrambled to a two-wicket win over New Zealand in the opening T20 international of the series in Sydney, finishing with seven balls to spare in pursuit of New Zealand's 162/2.

Australia were cruising until Jess Kerr removed Perry in the 11th over, triggering a collapse. The chase went from 102/3 to 145/7, but the wobble was not enough for New Zealand to complete a late heist.

Ellyse Perry scored a half-century but Australia didn't have it easy

Plimmer and Green power New Zealand

New Zealand built their total on the efforts of opener Georgia Plimmer (85 off 68) and two-drop batter Maddy Green (56* off 37), who added 127 runs off just 80 balls for the third wicket. The pair stabilised the innings after Flora Devonshire fell in the third over and Amelia Kerr went right after the Powerplay.

Plimmer hit Lucy Hamilton for a hat-trick of fours in the ninth over, while Green took on Ashleigh Gardner for a couple of boundaries in the following over. New Zealand reached 108/2 in 15 overs and then added 54 from the last 30 balls, with Green smashing two fours and a six off Kim Garth in the 17th over.

Perry and Mooney steady the chase

Australia lost Georgia Voll on the second ball of the chase but were flying in the Powerplay through Beth Mooney and Perry, who took them to 57/1. They kept up a rate of around 10 an over after the field restrictions eased, reaching 85/1 in eight overs and placing themselves well ahead of the required rate.

Mooney was then run out in the ninth over, and Perry fell an over after reaching a 27-ball fifty. That opened the door for New Zealand. In the 12th over, Amelia Kerr dismissed Georgia Wareham, and although Annabel Sutherland responded with two fours and a six in her next over, Jess Kerr's double-wicket over in the 15th put the game on a knife's edge.

Garth finishes the job

Australia were 150/7 after the 16th over, still needing 13 more. The required number fell to three when Lea Mair cleaned up Sophie Molineux, but the tail could not spark a comeback for New Zealand. Kim Garth saw the chase through in the 19th over.

Brief scores

New Zealand Women 162/2 in 20 overs (Georgia Plimmer 85*, Maddy Green 56*; Annabel Sutherland 1-28)
lost to Australia 165/8 in 18.5 overs (Ellyse Perry 52, Beth Mooney 38; Jess Kerr 3-25) by two wickets.