Morna Nielsen. Photo Getty
The New Zealand women's cricket team have capped their
build-up for the women's one-day world cup with a historic
Twenty20 series victory in Australia.
Heading into the final match of the three game series, the
teams were locked at one-all after splitting the opening
fixtures in a double-header on Tuesday.
A superb bowling performance today had the Australians on the
back foot soon after the Ferns won the toss and elected to
take the ball in blistering conditions at Melbourne's
Junction Oval.
New Zealand were led by 22-year-old Morna Nielsen, who took
1-9 off her four overs at the front of the innings and picked
up the cheap wicket of Alyssa Healy in her second over.
But it was Nielsen's searing economy rate that heaped the
pressure on the hosts, who eventually struggled to a light
total of 134/5.
Chasing a run rate of six and over for victory, Lucy Doolan
(35 off 40) and skipper Suzie Bates (67 off 44) then poured
on a 101-run opening stand to cruise to an emphatic
seven-wicket victory with two overs to spare.
Both sides now travel to India for the world cup, which
begins January 31.
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