The New Zealand WHITE FERNS have claimed the opening One-Day International in the Rose Bowl series against Australia in thrilling fashion, winning by nine runs, with two balls to spare, in a last over nailbiter at Mount Maunganui's Bay Oval.
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See the reaction and scenes as the match unfolded
Anchorwoman Amy Satterthwaite was named Player of the Match after top-scoring for the WHITE FERNS with 72 off 88 balls, then claiming a wicket and three catches, after Australia had asked the New Zealanders to bat first in fine and warm conditions.
It was a successful One-Day International debut for 20-year-old WHITE FERN Thamsyn Newton, too.
Newton, who made her T20 International debut earlier this summer against Sri Lanka, took a wicket in her first over of ODI cricket.
Watch @NewtonThamsyn taking her 1st wicket in her 1st over of ODI cricket #WFvAUS pic.twitter.com/lvKN2OIL6C
— WHITE FERNS (@WHITE_FERNS) February 20, 2016
She had broken Australia's 69-run opening partnership by getting Nicole Bolton caught by Satterthwaite, as the Australians set off after the WHITE FERNS' tally of 202 for nine.
Meg Lanning departs
She then took the catch off Morna Nielsen to dismiss Australian captain Meg Lanning for just five.
The fielding had improved as the pressure went on.
After shelling valuable chances in the earlier part of the innings, the WHITE FERNS hauled themselves right back into contention with disciplined bowling and regular wickets, holding their nerve to reduce Australia from 104 for three to 193 all out.
Captain and opener Suzie Bates had earlier looked superb as she closed in on a looming half century, but she had been dismissed in unlucky fashion on 43: run out at the non-striker's end when the ball deflected off the bowler's hand.
At the other end of the match, allrounder Bates came into her own at the death as Australia's innings crumbled into a tense equation. Australia had needed 12 off the final over, tipping the balance in the New Zealanders' favour: at the 30-over mark, the visitors had been well placed at just three down, and had kept the required run rate in relative control at run-a-ball until the deadly attack of death bowling from the WHITE FERNS.
The skipper made sure of the catch off Lea Tahuhu (3-34) for the key dismissal of the ever threatening Ellyse Perry (51) in the 49th over.
Then Bates finished off the job herself in the last over by having Kristen Beams caught by Satterthwaite, for a well fought victory with two balls remaining.
Legspinner Erin Bermingham had finished with 3-38, having operated in tandem with Morna Nielsen through the middle as the slow bowlers built the pressure on a surface that traditionally smiles on slower bowlers. Like Newton, Nielsen took a wicket in her first over.
Erin Bermingham
Australia's Southern Stars could take heart in wicketkeeper-batsman Beth Mooney's maiden half century on ODI debut, together with two catches; stepping in after Alyssa Healy was ruled out with a hamstring strain.
Spinners Grace Harris and Jess Jonassen both took 3-32 from their 10 overs, escalating the pressure as the New Zealanders' good start with the bat was reigned in.
Cameos in the tail would be vital, Newton's first innings in ODI cricket producing 16 before she was the last to fall; Katey Martin eeking out 22 and Lea Tahuhu contributing an unbeaten 12.
Yet 202 would prove just enough.
The win secures two ICC International Women's Championship points for the WHITE FERNS (joining the West Indies on 16 points, behind only Australia on 20 points: the top four nations will qualify automatically for the 2017 ICC Women's World Cup).
And, a 1-0 lead heading into Monday's second free entry Rose Bowl ODI at the same venue in the three-match ODI series.
Player of the match Amy Satterthwaite
