The Australian Under 21 side have taken a one nil lead in their ODI series against the NZ Emerging Players XI, with a four wicket win at Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln.
The visitors required 224 for victory and timed there run chase brilliantly to bring up the final runs with four balls to spare.
The Emerging XI opted to bat first, but lost Nat Dodd and Anna Peterson early. The home side were then forced to rebuild and captain Frances Mackay stepped up for her side.
Mackay played a sensible innings of 64 from 118 balls, despite seemingly struggling with an injury from the early stages of her stint at the crease.
The Kiwi’s innings started to pick up though and 47 from White Fern Kate Broadmore lifted the Emerging XI to a respectable total of 223 all out after 49.2 overs.
Megan Schutt and Nicola Carey proved the hardest to handle for the New Zealand batsmen, as both claimed three cheap wickets.
In reply Australia looked comfortable at the crease and were sitting pretty at 141 for one after 31 overs, largely thanks to a 99 run second wicket partnership between Beth Mooney and Claire Koski.
The Aussie Under 21 side lost a total of six wickets, but the base they had been set was just too good and were eventual victors.
Carey finished with 84 and Mooney 66, as the middle order finished off the job with four balls and four wickets in hand to claim the first of the ODI matches.
Kate Broadmore finished off what had been a brilliant individual performance with figures of two for 39 from 9.2 overs.
It was a close match, but the Emerging XI will have wanted 20 more runs on the board and better penetration of the Aussie top order.
They get their chance to level the series on Tuesday.
