Coyte stars in Australia win

Australia women beat New Zealand women by four wickets in the second Twenty20 of the Rose Bowl series at the Saxton Oval in Nelson. New Zealand elected to bat and started rapidly with openers Aimee Watkins and Sarah Tsukigawa adding 21 runs inside the first three overs before Tsukigawa was dismissed. A third-wicket partnership of 29 between Watkins and Sara McGlashan took New Zealand to 62 before Watkins was dismissed. That triggered a collapse as New Zealand lost seven wickets for 60 runs. Debutant Sarah Coyte picked up two middle-order wickets and was involved in two run-outs as New Zealand managed to reach a below-par 122 for 9.

Australia got off to a solid start, reaching 38 for 1 in just under six overs. Shelley Nitschke was run out on the same score and Australia lost momentum after that. They kept losing wickets at regular intervals and at 79 for 6, it looked like New Zealand would defend their total. However, an unbeaten 44-run partnership for the seventh wicket between wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy (28) and Coyte (14) carried Australia home. Australia now lead the eight-match Rose Bowl series, that comprises five Twenty20 and three ODIs, 1-0. The first Twenty20 in Hamilton was abandoned due to rain. The third T20 will be played on February 18 in Invercargill.