NZ Women vs AUS Women, 1st T20I at Auckland, NZ v AUS [W], Mar 21 2025 - Match Result

5:45pm That will be all from us from this game. But don't go too far because in an hour and a half, the New Zealand men's team will be taking on Pakistan at Eden Park. Until next time, from Vairavan and me (Shashwat), this is goodbye!

Beth Mooney, Player of the Match: It has been a pretty long summer but not hard to get up for a game wearing this Australian shirt. (On attacking the powerplay) Sometimes, that can happen naturally if you are a roll. Really hard to stop when batters are free-flowing. We found that pretty easy in the powerplay, we got 70-odd, which was outrageous. We (Voll and me) get on really well off the field, which helps on the field as well. Lot of fun having her at the top of the order. She is a breath of fresh air. She takes everything in her stride and takes the game on, which helps me. Lucky we have the depth to have us go out and play like that. (On if there was any celebration with this being her 200th game) The staff and the girls had a couple of speeches for me and put on a video from my close mates and folks back home saying a few nice things. Getting to 200 matches means I am getting a little bit older, and have had 200 warm-ups behind me (smiles). The bowlers did a great job setting the game up. If we are being critical, we could have kept them to a little less. (Coming up to the stumps off Brown) A bit brave, borderline reckless. But it kept Plimmer in her crease, so maybe might see a bit more of that.

Tahlia McGrath, Australia captain: Very happy, very clinical by Mooney and Voll. Our fielding was a bit off but could not be happier with the result. Initially at the toss, I thought it was going to be a tricky wicket but then it was coming on nice. Pulled it back through the middle but leaked a bit, and they got away from us at the back end. I love it (leading this side). So much experience, so many options, everyone is switched on and owns their field. (On Mooney and what she means to the team) It was special that she could put up a performance like that (in her 200th game). She has been doing that for years, she flies under the radar a bit.

Suzie Bates, New Zealand captain: Full credit to Australia, they really took it to us. We got to a positive start with the bat, but the way they used the conditions with their seamers was excellent. When we missed our lengths, they punished us. The girls are hurting but we have to show resilience to turn it around. We talk about when we get 20-30s to make it a 50 or a 100. They (Australia) just showed that if you can get in inside the powerplay and get going, what you can do. Always nice to have familiar faces and experience around, that will help us going into the second game. Don't think anyone will put their hand up and say they were pleased today. You need eleven players to step up against Australia. Every game, you have to start again. We love playing there (in Mount Maunganui), get to the beach, wash ourselves off and then go again on Sunday. It is a familiar ground, with our quality of spinners. We can take positives from that. The powerplay with the ball, we probably need to get more clarity on how to attack them. And once a player gets in, how to improve the strike-rates and get to a score that we can defend. We know the brand (of cricket) we want to play and we will keep pushing (to do that).

5:26pm A clinical and commanding run-chase. The first over only went for two but after that, it was all Australia. Voll landed the early blows, before Mooney joined in on the fun. Both of them then tore New Zealand apart in unison, rattling along to 77-0 after the powerplay. Mooney and Voll registered their fifties too, and ensured the game was done long before Voll and Litchfield departed in quick succession.

NZ will probably be shell-shocked more than anything else. It did seem they were a bit short, but Australia made it seem as if they were at least 70 runs short of what would have made this a contest. Plenty to ponder, plenty to introspect and this afternoon, which was their first T20I against Australia since becoming world champions, could not have gone further awry.

Mair to bowl what should be the last over of this game

Perry joins Mooney

Tahuhu to continue

Nathan: "I'm glad Voll didn't fall short of her 50, she deserved it."

Litchfield in at 3, with Australia needing 15 to win