Australia Beat New Zealand by Two Wickets in Thrilling T20I Opener
Australia took a 1-0 lead in their three-match T20I series against New Zealand with a two-wicket win in the opening match at North Sydney Oval.
Australia secured a two-wicket victory over New Zealand in the first T20I at North Sydney Oval, chasing 163 with seven balls to spare. Ellyse Perry played a crucial role, scoring 52 off 30 deliveries, including an 86-run partnership with Beth Mooney, the International Cricket Council (ICC) reported.
Despite a late batting collapse, Australia managed to secure the win, with Kim Garth hitting a boundary to seal the victory. New Zealand had posted 162 for 2, thanks to an unbeaten 127-run partnership between Georgia Plimmer and Maddy Green.
Plimmer scored a career-best 85 not out off 68 balls, while Green contributed 56 not out from 37 deliveries. Australia's bowlers contained New Zealand, taking only two wickets, with Georgia Wareham, Sophie Molineux, and Annabel Sutherland making key contributions.
Perry acknowledged that Australia could have been more clinical but was pleased with the early momentum established alongside Mooney. The win gives Australia a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, International Cricket Council (ICC) said in a statement.
The series is part of the build-up to the inaugural ICC Women's Champions Trophy early next year. Australia recently won the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 in July, but Perry stressed that there is still room for improvement, both collectively and individually.
The team has been working on individual areas through domestic cricket and their recent ODI series against Bangladesh.
The Women's Champions Trophy is a new chapter in women's cricket, with ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta looking ahead to the tournament. The competition will feature top teams from around the world, providing another opportunity for Australia to fine-tune their game and continue developing as a team.