1st Innings – Dandenong

Sophie Devine is a world class player so we knew it was a pretty important wicket to get,” she says of the big breakthrough at the very start of her four overs. Devine’s turn to talk. The New Zealand captain believes their issue with the ball isn’t that they don’t have bowlers who can take pace off the ball, but that they didn’t bowl into the pitch well enough. Now Meg Lanning. “We pegged them back well with the ball and batting wise, Healy and Mooney getting off to a flying start meant that we could see it home.”

Australia big winners by eight wickets, taking a two-nil series win into the third and final T20 on Wednesday. I’ll be back with you then. Bye for now!

New Zealand never had enough runs. This was highlighted when Healy took 22 runs from one Bates over in the power play. From there, even after she fell for 33 (off 17 balls) then Mooney for 24, the chase was well and truly in hand. Haynes was resourceful and efficient, unbeaten on 40 from 31, and Lanning did as Lanning does, not out 26 when the victory target of 129 was reached in the 17th over.

Australia Women will take on New Zealand Women in the 1^st game of the 3 game T20 series which will be played at the Allan Border Field in Brisbane. This game will mark the return of the Women’s International Cricket after the COVID-19 pandemic break. The return of the crowd will also be a morale booster for the side.

Both teams have some really good experienced players in their ranks and this can be a really good series to watch out. Australia won the T20 World Cup in March 2020 and would definitely want to play as the World Champions but they will miss the services of Ellyse Perry who is out due to an injury. New Zealand would rely on their senior pros like Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates, and Amelia Kerr.

“It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing away of Mr. Dean Mervyn Jones,” the broadcaster said in a statement.

“He died of a sudden cardiac arrest. We express our deep condolences to his family and stand ready to support them in this difficult time.”

Jones, who played 52 Tests and 164 one-day internationals in the 1980s and 1990s, winning the World Cup in 1987, was one of Australia’s most popular cricketers.

In 1986, he famously struck 210 in the blistering heat of Chennai during cricket’s second-ever tied Test.

He coached in the Pakistan Super League and was also a widely travelled commentator.

“Shocked to hear about the tragic loss of Dean Jones. Praying for strength and courage to his family and friends,” said India’s skipper Virat Kohli on Twitter.

“Really shocking to lose a colleague and a dear friend — Dean Jones. Gone so young. Condolences to the family and may his soul rest in peace,” tweeted India’s head coach Ravi Shastri.

Dandenong 175 / 7 (50 overs)

Jesssica Matin 53

Nicole Faltum  38

Bowling – Latisha Bawden 16 /2 , Rian O’ Donnell 24 / 1, Sophie Day 40 / 1.

Plenty Valley 176 / 3 ( 48 overs)

Sophie Reid             99

Sophie Day              37 (Not out)

Meagan Ciavarella   22