T20I: Phoebe Litchfield unleashes with blistering half-century after shock Ash Gardner injury
A stunning half-century from Phoebe Litchfield has guided Australia out of danger and to victory against New Zealand in the first T20I in Mackay. It came after star Ash Gardner was ruled out after a freak accident just minutes before the toss.
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Australian young gun Phoebe Litchfield put together a masterful performance to lift her country to victory over New Zealand in the first T20 international in Mackay.
The loss of star Ash Gardner minutes before the toss after a freak collision with Georgia Wareham in the warm-up threatened to derail Australia’s night, but tight bowling combined with Litchfield’s heroics led the way to victory.
Litchfield strode to the crease after a mini top-order collapse in which Beth Mooney, Alyssa Healy and Ellyse Perry fell in quick succession.
And she took to the task like a veteran, showcasing her full array of shots, unleashing drives, ramps and reverse sweeps at will as she cracked 11 boundaries on her way to an unbeaten 64 from 43 balls.
Australia was rattled by the loss of Ash Gardner to concussion just minutes before the toss after a collision with Georgia Wareham during a game in their warm-up.
Wareham’s shoulder appeared to collected Gardner’s head as they both went for a catch, with Gardner ruled out just moments before New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat.
That’s usually led to victory in Mackay, and while New Zealand showed good signs with the bat it was Australia’s bowlers - all six of whom took a wicket – who shone.
New Zealand were without Sophie Devine, who succumbed to an ankle injury, with stand-in skipper Suzie Bates (33) and Maddy Green (35) leading the way with the bat on their way to 7-143.
Every time New Zealand built some momentum, Australia struck, limiting the Kiwis’ damage with the bat in the Sugar City.
Beth Mooney smashed the first two balls of the chase to the fence, and Alyssa Healy showcase some of her stroke play.
But both were dismissed before truly hitting a roll.
Litchfield wasn’t fazed by the pressure, as she and Georgia Wareham (26 off 20) shared in a half-century stand on Australia’s way to victory.
HOW IT HAPPENED
AUS 1st Innings
A stunning Phoebe Litchfield half-century has guided Australia to a five-wicket victory in the first T20 International against New Zealand in Mackay after a freak accident claimed superstar Ash Gardner.
Litchfield smashed 11 boundaries on her way to a match-winning 64 from just 43 balls, after surviving an early lbw shout and review.
Australia was rattled by the loss of Ash Gardner to injury just minutes before the toss after a collision with Georgia Wareham during a game in their warm-up.
Wareham’s shoulder appeared to collected Gardner’s head as they both went for a catch, with Gardner ruled out just moments before New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat.
That’s usually led to victory in Mackay, and while New Zealand showed good signs but Australia’s bowlers - all six of whom took a wicket - restricted the visitors to 7-143.
Suzie Bates
Wareham chimed in with a superb 26 from 20 balls, sharing in a 50-run partnership withLitchfield.
It’s understood Gardner passed a concussion test but suffered a jaw injury.
FIFTY! Phoebe’s field day
Phoebe Litchfield has torched New Zealand’s attack with a blistering half-century to save Thursday night’s T20 in Mackay.
Just as Australia wobbled after three quick and key wickets fell - Beth Mooney, Alyssa Healy and Ellyse Perry - it was the prodigiously talented striker who saved the game.
Litchfield smacked 10 boundaries in in her superb 32-ball 50 in the Sugar City, and has put Australia on track for victory.
While she and Georgia Wareham were more than happy to pitch ones and twos where necessary, 21-year-old Litchfield was also willing to display her full array of strokes, slapping back to back balls to the boundary via reverse sweep.
Australia is in command at the end of the 15-over mark, needing 28 from 30 runs.
10 overs: AUS 3-74
Just as Australia found themselves in a spot bother, Phoebe Litchfield is here to the rescue.
But not before some early drama.
Litchfield sent a scare through the Australian camp after she was the subject of a vociferous appeal from the Kiwis, but the umpire and the subsequent review ruled in her favour.
Litchfield was unperturbed, pulling out a daring ramp shot in the next over to add four to the Aussie total, before lofting a cover drive and an on drive later in the over to move to 19 off 14.
Another boundary later and she was up to 25 from 17 balls and showing no signs of slowing down.
Key wickets: Triple threat gone
NZ has given themselves a sniff of victory with two wickets in two balls to remove two of Australia’s best strikers.
Just as it looked like the Aussies might cruise to smooth win, a mistimed cover drive from Alyssa Healy sailed directly into the waiting hands of Amelia Kerr, off the bowling of Leigh Kasperek.
Healy, who copped a blow on her helmut just balls earlier, departed, with one of the world’s leading all-rounders Ellyse Perry striding to the crease.
That stay was shortlived.
The Kiwis rode the new momentum, with Tahuhu making amends for her earlier mistake by cleaning up Perry’s stumps to reduce the Aussies to 3-45 just one ball after the end of the powerplay.
5 overs: AUS 1-41
Australia got off to an auspicious start in its reply, with Beth Mooney pummeling Fran Jonas for two boundaries off the first two balls of the innings.
It was an imposing start to the 144-run target, but as quickly as she scored, it turned.
The Ferns had a chance to break the opening partnership when Mooney spooned one to point, but Lea Tahulhu was unable to hang on to a relatively simple catch.
However, Mooney was unable to make her opponents pay for the error, feathering one to the keeper on the first ball of the next over with only one further run added to the scoreboard.
The Aussies quickly righted the ship via Healy and Ellyse Perry, with the pair bludgeoning four boundaries in short order to get the chase back on track.
NZ 1st Innings
20 overs: NZ 7-143
A horror run-out summed up a tough night at the crease for New Zealand.
The visitors reached 7-143 from their 20 overs, in an innings during which they constantly built momentum only to give up a wicket.
Maddy Green moved to 35 at just slightly better than a run-a-ball as New Zealand played their way into the 120s.
However, the girls in green and gold had the answer once again, with another lap sweep by Green gobbled up by Heather Graham at short fine leg off the bowling of Megan Schutt.
The visitors battled away, but the run out on the second last ball summed up their night.
It was a good time for the home side, with all six Australian bowlers, including late inclusion Graham, taking one wicket each.
A huge mix-up between the New Zealand batters and an easy run out for Healy â˜ï¸
— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) September 19, 2024
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15 overs: NZ 5-109
The White Ferns continued to plug away, with Maddy Green and Isabella Gaze plundering a pair of boundaries each to lift their side close to the 100-run mark.
However, the Aussies were once again able to break a fledgling partnership, this time courtesy of their late call-up Heather Graham who trapped Gaze plumb in front for 11.
Key wicket: Bates departs, NZ 4-70
Disaster has struck just two balls after the drinks break, as Annabel Sutherland takes the prized scalp of Suzie Bates.
The stand-in skipper was looking comfortable as NZ regained some momentum after a slowish start, but mistimed a Sutherland delivery which sent the ball skyward and right into the waiting gloves of captaincy counterpart Alyssa Healy.
It leaves NZ with six wickets for the final 10 overs, but with two relatively fresh batters at the crease, it’s time for Australia to strike.
10 overs: NZ 3-69
New Zealand has found their stride, with captain Suzi Bates striking three boundaries to lift her side back towards parity.
A misjudged lap sweep brought Brooke Halliday’s night to an end, as she was trapped in front by Georgia Wareham.
The umpire raised the finger, but Halliday was forced to depart after an unsuccessful review.
The scalp doubled as Wareham’s 100th wicket across all formats for her country.
The Kiwis consolidated over the next few overs, and while the boundaries weren’t flowing they got their side to a reasonable position after 10 overs.
5 overs: NZ 2-27
Australia has assumed control of this contest, with New Zealand reaching a respectable 2/27 after five overs.
Australia was on the front foot early, creating a couple of decent chances before finally snagging the first wicket in the second ball of the fourth over.
Georgia Plimmer scooped a Tayla Vlaeminck ball right to backward point, with the straightforward catch secured by Sophie Molineux.
Tayla Vlaeminck picks up the first wicket for Australia ðŸ‘
— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) September 19, 2024
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Things went from good to great for the green and gold in the next over, as Molineux bagged a wicket of her own with her first ball.
A mistimed slog sweep from Amelia Kerr went straight down the throat of Annabel Sutherland at mid-on, with leaving Suzie Bates the established White Fern at the crease.
PRE-GAME: Gardner reportedly suffered a jaw injury due to a collision during Australia’s pregame warm-up, and as a result is a late scratching from the team sheet.
During a warm-up game, Gardner and Georgia Wareham both turned to chase a projectile, colliding at speed with Gardner’s head catching part of Wareham’s shoulder.
Gardner, who has a history with concussion, underwent tests but was ruled out of Thursday night’s game.
Drama before the first ball with Georgia Wareham & Ash Gardner colliding during the warm-up.
— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) September 19, 2024
Gardner is OUT after the incident.
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Heather Graham comes into the side.
Gardner joins Kim Garth (knee) and Grace Harris (calf) on the sidelines for the Aussies, though both are expected to recover in time for the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup next month.
Meanwhile, White Ferns captain Sophie Devine did not recover in time to take her place in the Great Barrier Arena clash.
Devine, who expressed confidence that she would be suiting up for game one as she recovers from an ankle injury, is also unavailable for tonight’s game.
Suzie Bates has assumed the captaincy role in Devine’s absence.
New Zealand will bat first.
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