Quantcast

White Ferns still with plenty to play for

The series against Australia may already be decided, but New Zealand will still be playing for pride during the remainder of the tour

New Zealand will look to salvage some pride from their final week in Australia after suffering back-to-back defeats in the Commonwealth Bank ODI Series.

After pushing Australia to the final ball of the opening match in Perth, the White Ferns succumbed to a 95-run defeat in Adelaide on Sunday, ensuring the Rose Bowl Trophy would remain in Australian hands for a 20th consecutive year.

New Zealand, who haven't won an ODI series against their trans-Tasman rivals since 1999, will now look to avoid a series sweep in the third and final game at Melbourne's Junction Oval on Sunday.

But first they travel to Sydney, where they'll take on a crop of up-and-coming players in the annual Governor-General's XI match at Drummoyne Oval on Thursday.

"I think some pride," New Zealand captain Amy Satterthwaite said when asked what she'd look to take from the tour game and final ODI.

"(We want to) just show what we can produce.

"We've shown it in patches and we've talked all series about how we have to produce quality performances against a quality side in Australia to beat them, and I think we've been close in phases and just not been able to finish it off. 

"So our the goal would certainly be to play for a lot of pride and showing the performances we can produce." 

Aussies dominate to secure Rose Bowl

Satterthwaite, who took over the captaincy from Suzie Bates last September, expressed her frustration that the plans her team were hatching in the dressing rooms weren't translating on the field.

"We have to reflect on how we're playing some of their players," she said. 

"The most frustrating thing for me is the chats we're having in the changeroom aren't necessarily transferring out to the middle. 

"If we were doing that and (still) getting out, you'd take that, but I think we are letting them dictate terms a little too much and it's playing in the wrong way in terms of us being a little too timid and getting out."

The result marks a third straight ODI series defeat for New Zealand, who suffered a 2-1 loss to India on home soil last month and went down to England 2-1 in the UK last year.

It's a record that's in stark contrast to Meg Lanning's Australia, who haven't lost an ODI series since mid-2013. 

Super Perry posts maiden ODI century

The White Ferns have dropped to third on the ICC Women's ODI Championship – which determines automatic qualification for the 2021 50-over World Cup – but fortunately for New Zealand, their place at the tournament is already assured as hosts.

But with less than two years remaining until they play the showpiece tournament on home soil, they'll be searching for answers to arrest their recent downturn in form in the one-day game.

"We just want to show the performance we can put on the board and take a lot of pride back home, it's the end of our summer and it would be really nice to finish on a high note," Satterthwaite said.

Thursday's Governor-General's XI match will be broadcast on Fox Cricket with play beginning at 1.50pm local time.

The third and final ODI on Sunday will be broadcast live on Fox Sports and the Seven Network and can be live streamed via Kayo, with news, scores and highlights on cricket.com.au and the CA Live App.

CommBank ODIs v NZ 

Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Nicola Carey, Lauren Cheatle, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Elyse Villani, Georgia Wareham

New Zealand squad: Amy Satterthwaite (c), Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine, Lauren Down, Maddy Green, Hayley Jensen, Leigh Kasperek, Amelia Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Katey Martin, Katie Perkins, Anna Peterson, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu

February 22: Australia won by five runs

February 24: Australia won by 95 runs

March 3: Third ODI, Junction Oval, Melbourne