Australia retain Rose Bowl with crushing win

Australia Women 126 for 1 (Poulton 61*, Blackwell 50*) beat New Zealand Women 125 (Perkins 33, Hunter 3-31, Perry 3-16) by nine wickets
Scorecard

Australia Women retained the Rose Bowl after racing to a nine-wicket win in a low-scorer at Sydney's Blacktown Park Olympic Oval. Julie Hunter and Ellyse Perry set up the win by taking three wickets apiece to send New Zealand sinking to 125. Leah Poulton and Alex Blackwell then hit brisk fifties to get the job done in just 16.4 overs.

It was a virtual final after the first two matches were abandoned. New Zealand failed to counter the swing of Hunter and Perry, struggling to put together solid partnerships after losing the top order early. The sixth-wicket stand of 31 between Liz Perry and Katie Perkins was the highest. Perkins top-scored with 33 off 71 balls.

New Zealand had just one success with the ball when Lea Tahuhu dismissed Rachael Haynes for 8. Poulton then smashed 61 off just 53 balls, with nine fours, while Blackwell managed a 40-ball 50. Their 104-run stand came at more than eight an over.