Devine destruction powers NZ to huge win over Aussies

New Zealand skipper Sophie Devine has smacked a remarkable unbeaten 161 as her side reeled in a mammoth target of 322 to defeat Australia in a World Cup warm-up match in Christchurch.

Australia took just one wicket in a chastening afternoon in the field as Devine, Amelia Kerr (92no from 75) and Suzie Bates (63) cruised to victory with 6.5 overs to spare.

Scorecard: Australia v New Zealand

Devine's 161 came off just 117 balls, and included 22 fours and four sixes, with no Aussie bowler spared her wrath at Lincoln's Bert Sutcliffe Oval.

Alana King took the sole wicket – that of Bates in the 21st over – for Australia, who created few chances as they rotated through nine bowlers in the practice fixture.

It followed a dominant morning for the Australian batting line-up led by captain Meg Lanning's 87, with four batters passing fifty in their innings of 321 all out.

Sent in by the White Ferns, Rachael Haynes (2) fell cheaply to bring Lanning to the crease in the seventh over.

Lanning was slow to get going as Alyssa Healy played the aggressor at the other end, striking 64 from 71 balls.

 

Image Id: 01C6A4F652B2477F959A2A7173EAD857 Image Caption: Meg Lanning top-scored for Australia with 87 off 86 balls // Getty

 

The Australia captain hit just 19 runs from the first 41 balls she faced but flicked the switch when leg-spinner Kerr entered the attack, smacking 31 from her next 20 balls to bring up her half-century.

Handed lives on 51 and 60, Lanning's push towards a century was denied when she holed out off the bowling of Frankie Mackay in the 33rd over, ending her 86-ball knock that featured nine fours and two sixes.

Ellyse Perry did not bat, giving others time in the middle after she hit a half-century against West Indies on Sunday, while Tahlia McGrath's stay at the crease lasted just five balls before she departed without scoring.

However Beth Mooney improved on the start she made against the Windies, hitting 55 from 51, and Ashleigh Gardner's arrival at the crease rapidly changed the tempo.

Gardner struck four sixes and six fours, taking just 29 balls to pass 50 before she was ultimately out for 60 from 32.

Annabel Sutherland (12), Grace Harris (6), Jess Jonassen (1) fell cheaply, while Nicola Carey (21) was caught on the boundary to leave Australia all out with three balls to spare.

Rowe was the pick of the Kiwi bowlers, finishing with 4-49 off 10.

Australia will fly to Hamilton on Thursday ahead of their opening World Cup match against England on Saturday, while New Zealand will be full of confidence ahead of Friday's tournament opener against West Indies in Tauranga.

ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2022

Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Grace Harris, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Amanda-Jade Wellington. Travelling reserves: Heather Graham, Georgia Redmayne

Australia's World Cup 2022 fixtures

Mar 5: v England, Seddon Park, Hamilton, 12pm AEDT

Mar 8: v Pakistan, Bay Oval, Tauranga, 12pm AEDT

Mar 13: v New Zealand, Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT

Mar 15: v West Indies, Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT

Mar 19: v India, Eden Park, Auckland, 12pm AEDT

Mar 22: v South Africa, Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT

Mar 25: v Bangladesh, Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL WORLD CUP SCHEDULE

Semi-finals

Mar 30: Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT

Mar 31: Hagley Park Christchurch, 12pm AEDT

Final

Apr 3: Hagley Park Christchurch, 11am AEDT

All matches to be broadcast in Australia on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports