Australia has been set a 147-run target for victory in Tuesday’s third T20 against New Zealand in Brisbane.
The White Ferns posted 6-146 after a maiden T20I half-century from young gun Georgia Plimmer, who cracked a career-best 53 (48) at Allan Border Field.
Plimmer combined with Kiwi all-rounder Amelia Kerr for a 73-run partnership for the second wicket as the tourists posted their highest team total of the series despite a late collapse of 5-14.
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Earlier, New Zealand captain Sophie Devine won the toss and chose to bat first, with openers Suzie Bates and Plimmer surviving the Powerplay unscathed.
However, Australian leg-spinner Georgia Wareham broke the opening stand on the first delivery after the fielding restrictions were lifted, with Bates walking across the crease and bowled around her legs for 19.
In the ninth over, Kerr survived a marginal LBW chance that Australian captain Alyssa Healy sent upstairs, with a Umpire’s Call verdict handing the New Zealander an early reprieve. Meanwhile, spinner Sophie Molineux and quick Tayla Vlaeminck dropped tough return chances with Plimmer on 9 and 16 respectively.
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Plimmer brought up her half-century in 47 balls but departed the very next delivery, bowled by Wareham after charging down the deck. The following over, Kerr chopped on while facing spinner Ash Gardner, bowled for 40.
New Zealand lost a cluster of wickets at the death, with all-rounder Annabel Sutherland snaring two scalps in the penultimate over, but a late cameo of 12* (5) from Maddy Green, playing her 100th T20I, steered the visitors towards a defendable total.
The White Ferns are in the midst of a nine-match losing streak that dates back to March.
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Source Agencies
