New Zealand Development 188-5 in 31.1 overs (Lauren Down 86, Saachi Shahri 50, Charli Knott 4-20) beat Australia U19 187 all out in 47.2 overs (Annabel Sutherland 58, Maddy Darke 32, Jess Watkin 2-27) by 5 wickets at Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln
The New Zealand Development women’s team has taken a comfortable 1-0 lead in the three match one-day series against Australia Under 19 at Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln this afternoon.
The visitors won the toss and elected to bat first but ran into trouble early, Tahlia Wilson falling in the second over for one run after a good catch from Lauren Down off the bowling of Jessica Simmons.
Josie Dooley and Rachel Trenaman then offered resistance to a strong NZ Development bowling attack, building a partnership worth 55 runs. But when Dooley was removed by Arlene Kelly for 17 and Trenaman bowled for 26 shortly afterwards, Australia were left reeling at 3/68.
Enter the Melbourne Star’s Annabel Sutherland who, alongside New South Wales Metro’s Maddy Darke, put on a 74-run partnership to revive Australia’s innings leading into the final 20 overs.
Darlington reached her 50 off 52 balls but was removed for 58 shortly afterwards by Jacinta Savage who also got Darke for 32 in her next over.
And when Jess Kerr got Nicole Faltum and Hayley Silver-Holmes in the same over Australia found themselves in a spot of bother again at 6/160.
Little resistance was offered from the tail as the NZ Development attack mopped up the remaining wickets bowling the visitors out for 187.
NZ Development openers Lauren Down and Saachi Shahri were untroubled in their response bringing up 100 runs for the first wicket in less than 15 overs.
Down reached her half century off and pushed on to 86 before retiring with her team’s total at 135.
Auckland’s Shahri kicked on and reached 50 off 70 balls but was bowled by Charli Knott two balls later to leave NZ Development 2/160, just 28 runs from victory.
There were a couple of late wobbles, captain Thamsyn Newton came and went for just four, and Polly Inglis and Katie Anderson fell in consecutive balls, but it was too little too late from Australia, NZ Development taking the win by five wickets.
NZ Development will be out to wrap-up the series when the two teams meet again in game two at the same venue on Thursday.
