Sports · Cricket · 1 day ago
Perry leads Australia to two-wicket win over New Zealand
Australia beat New Zealand by two wickets in the opening T20 international at North Sydney Oval.
Ellyse Perry scored 52 from 30 balls as Australia chased New Zealand’s target of 163 with seven balls remaining.
Perry and Beth Mooney added 86 runs, giving Australia a strong start before Mooney was run out for 38.
New Zealand made 162 for two, built around an unbeaten 127-run partnership between Georgia Plimmer, who scored 85, and Maddy Green, who made 56.
Australia lost wickets late in the chase and finished on 163 for eight, while Jess Kerr took three wickets for New Zealand.
Australia leads the three-match series 1-0, as New Zealand begins a new chapter after the retirements of Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates and Lea Tahuhu.
Ellyse Perry scored 52 as Australia beat New Zealand by two wickets in the opening T20I at North Sydney Oval.
Australia chased a target of 163 with seven balls to spare, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Perry and Beth Mooney shared an 86-run partnership before Mooney was run out for 38.
New Zealand made 162 for 2, built around an unbeaten 127-run partnership between Georgia Plimmer and Maddy Green.
Australia lost regular wickets late in the chase but reached the target.
- Who
- Australia beat New Zealand. Ellyse Perry led Australia with 52.
- What
- Australia won the opening T20I by two wickets while chasing 163.
- When
- October 18, 2026, according to the ICC article’s publication date.
- Where
- North Sydney Oval.
- Why
- Australia won by reaching the target of 163 with seven balls to spare.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Georgia Plimmer and Maddy Green put on an unbeaten 127-run partnership as New Zealand made 162 for 2.
Georgia Voll was trapped leg before by Bree Illing.
Perry and Mooney added 86 before Mooney was run out for 38.
Perry made 52 off 30 balls before being dismissed by Jess Kerr.
Australia completed the chase with seven balls to spare, winning by two wickets.
- Australia’s target
- 163
- Australia’s result
- Won by two wickets, with seven balls to spare
- Ellyse Perry
- 52 runs off 30 deliveries
- Georgia Plimmer
- 85 not out off 68 balls
- Maddy Green
- 56 not out off 37 deliveries
- Series score
- Australia leads 1-0 in the three-match series
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What people are saying
We always try and endeavour to get off to a good start, and the powerplay seems to be a key to that.
Perhaps not as clinical as we would have liked.
To restrict the team to 160 out here when you've only taken two wickets is a pretty great job from our bowlers.