Ash Gardner's 77-ball ton sets New Zealand daunting 327

Ashleigh Gardner's batting masterclass set up a total of 326 for Australia, in their opening game of the ODI World Cup against New Zealand at the Holkar Stadium in Indore.

Gardner rescued Australia from a precarious position. Earlier in the day, Amelia Kerr and Lea Tahuhu had taken four key wickets after the powerplay, which left the defending champions at 128 for 5. Gardner put up key partnerships with Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux and Kim Garth, and raced to her second ODI ton in 77 balls, eventually finishing with an 83-ball 115. New Zealand will now need to complete the highest-ever chase in women's ODIs to beat Australia.

Alyssa Healy and Phoebe Litchfield started positively after Australia opted to bat on a pitch described as an "absolute beauty for batting" by Aaron Finch during the pitch report. Litchfield was particularly adept at using her feet, as she came down the track often to play her big shots. The duo raced to 38 at the end of the fourth over, with 28 of those runs coming in boundaries against new-ball bowlers Jess Kerr and Bree Illing. Illing, however, had the final say as she broke through in the fifth over to remove Healy.

Litchfield continued to pile on the runs in the company of Ellyse Perry, targeting the offside for her big hits as she smoked Illing for her first six of the day over extra cover. She adjusted well to the lengths of the fast bowlers and began to place the ball in the gaps, looking on track for a big score after taking Australia to 81 for 1 at the end of the powerplay. But the introduction of Amelia in the ninth over turned the game. In the first ball of the over, she executed the perfect googly that pitched outside leg and turned into the left-handed Litchfield, who played down the wrong line and was bowled. The wicket was also Amelia's 100th in ODIs.

New Zealand put the squeeze on Australia after Litchfield's wicket, conceding just 20 runs between the 11th and 17th overs. Amelia particularly made run-scoring a task for the Australia batters, mixing googlies, flight, and control during her spell. The experienced Tahuhu triggered a mini collapse, starting with Perry's wicket in the 18th over. Sutherland was the next one to go in the following over, with Amelia having her caught at mid-on. Australia then lost their third wicket in the space of 24 balls, with Mooney dismissed tamely for 12.

The rearguard for Australia came in the form of Gardner. She was aggressive from the start, getting off the mark with a punch over extra cover. She took on the spinners and fast bowlers alike, particularly punishing them through the covers and down the ground. She stamped her authority as she danced down the track to hit Amelia for a six to bring her half-century off 43 balls.

She did not take her foot off the gas even as wicket fell around her, hurrying to her century in the next 34 balls. She soaked in the applause of the crowd in Indore - hosting its first-ever women's ODI - as she celebrated her game-changing innings.

She was eventually dismissed in the 47th over by Jess, but valuable runs from Kim Garth at No. 9 further lifted Australia to a competitive total.