White Ferns win a thriller over Aussies

The scorecard: Australia 275 (Mooney 100, Haynes 50, Villani 50, Tahuhu 4-59) lost to New Zealand 5-276 (Satterthwaite 102no, Bates 55) by five wickets in 49.1 overs at Auckland’s Eden Park

The match in a tweet: Magic Mooney’s ton not enough as super Satterthwaite’s century steals the show and a 1-0 series lead in Auckland

The hero: Amy Satterthwaite was given a handy foundation by White Ferns openers Suzie Bates and Rachel Priest and was simply outstanding in her match-winning 102 not out from 113 deliveries. It was the perfect chase from Satterthwaite and Australia had no answers for the in-form allrounder – who became the first woman to score three consecutive ODI tons last November – with Satterthwaite easily pushing singles and twos throughout the middle overs then finding the boundary when required to keep the run chase under control. She escalated late in the chase, bringing up her sixth ODI century in the process, seeing the White Ferns home with five balls to spare.

The support cast: Satterthwaite played the match-winning hand, but she had ample support from her fellow batters. Skipper Bates made the most of a life on 32, scoring a crucial 55, while Katey Martin chipped in with 43 from 49 deliveries and during the final 10 overs, Katie Perkins was the perfect foil for Satterthwaite, scoring 29 from 27 balls before falling in the 47th over.

The drops: NZ skipper Bates was given a life on 32 when debutant Lauren Cheatle put down a sitter off the bowling of Amanda-Jade Wellington, and she went on to score a half-century. The Southern Stars missed out on a chance to take another key wicket when Martin was on three, with Jess Jonassen putting down a sharp return chance. Martin went on to make 43.

The century-maker: Australia opener Beth Mooney came into the match with 108 runs from six ODIs. Coach Matthew Mott had issued a warning to his batters before the match, demanding “centuries and match-winning not outs” and with the pressure on after the early dismissal of Nicole Bolton for 11, Mooney delivered. In just her seventh ODI, Mooney brought up her maiden international century,

The comeback kid: Rachel Haynes last played a match for Australia in mid-2013 before being recalled on the eve of the ODI series due to the absence of injured pair Alex Blackwell and Ellyse Perry.  She came to the crease with Australia 2-61 and with Bolton and Meg Lanning (15) back in the sheds, but if she was feeling nervous about returning to Australian colours for the first time in almost four years, it didn’t show as she got off the mark with a boundary. She had a lucky break thanks to an incorrect no-ball call – more on that below – bringing up a half-century before departing the following over to a dubious caught behind, with the ball appearing to bounce in front of wicketkeeper Priest’s gloves.

The no-ball controversy: Haynes was given a reprieve on 20 when, having lobbed an easy catch to mid-off, the square leg umpire signalled a no ball, believing – incorrectly – that New Zealand had too many players outside the inner circle. Confusion reigned as the call was sent upstairs, with Haynes believing she was out and making her way to the edge of the ground, only for the third umpire to confirm that while the delivery had not been a no ball, under ICC regulations, there is no provision for an umpire’s no-ball call to be overturned. 

The breakthrough knock: Elyse Villani became the third woman to pass 1000 T20I runs last week and has nine T20 fifties to her name, so while her score of 50 wasn't a surprise, the fact it was actually her first fifty in the one-day game was. Villani’s maiden 50 came off 42 balls in a knock featuring six boundaries.

The stat: Mooney loves New Zealand, it seems. She scored 53 on debut at Mount Maunganui’s Bay Oval last year and followed up today with her first ODI century. She now averages 43.5 in the ‘land of the long white cloud’.

The collapse: A late fightback from the hosts triggered a collapse of 7-38, denying the tourists what could have been a total in excess of 300. Australia were travelling nicely at 3-237 in the 42nd over with Mooney on 94 and Villani 50, but were bowled out for 275 as New Zealand quicks Lea Tahuhu and Holly Huddleston rattled through the middle and lower order.

The debutant: Teenage left-arm quick Lauren Cheatle was presented with ODI cap No.133 by former Australia batter Leah Poulton before play and she made a perfect start batting at No.10, striking the first delivery she faced for four. But it was a different story for the 18-year-old with the ball, her first two ODI deliveries sent to the ropes for four. Attacked early by the New Zealand opening pair, Cheatle also had a moment to forget when she dropped a sitter to hand Bates a life on 32, the White Ferns skipper going on to make 55.

The next stop: New Zealand lead the Rose Bowl series 1-0, with the action now moving to the quiet coastal town of Mount Maunganui, where the final two ODIs will be played on March 2 and 5.

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