Five-time champions, Australia, have hammered the White Ferns in their ICC T20 World Cup opener in South Africa.
The White Ferns fell to a 97-run defeat in their first Group 1 match.
Batting first Australia scored 173 in their 20 overs with White Fern bowlers Lea Tahuhu and Amelia Kerr taking three wickets apiece. In reply, New Zealand’s batters faltered from the outset, losing two wickets in the first over, during their Group 1 match in Paarl.
Australian bowler Ash Gardner bagged five wickets for 12 runs, while Alyssa Healy anchored their batting innings to top score with a half-ton.
After the match New Zealand captain Sophie Devine said they were simply outclassed in the heavy defeat.
The White Ferns run rate in the standings for Group 1 will take a hit from the significant loss as New Zealand suffered their biggest defeat in all T20 internationals.
New Zealand’s next game is against South Africa in two days as the hosts look to recover from their own poor start.
