Australia too good for New Zealand in tournament opener

Australia outplayed World Cup holders New Zealand in the first match of the World Series of Women's Cricket at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval today.

Two of Australia's CricInfo Women's World Cup 2000 veterans, Karen Rolton and Cathryn Fitzpatrick, halted the challenge of the TelstraClear White Ferns, who fielded two new players. One, Amanda Green, is struggling with a back injury to be fit for Tuesday's game with England.

The controversial early dismissal of White Ferns, skipper Emily Drumm derailed the home response and she was still ruing her departure after the 63-run loss.

"Six for two is not always the greatest. I was a bit disappointed to be given out, but I've got to get out there and make up for it now," she said.

"It was very disappointing obviously.

"But there are a lot of positives today. We've got a really young side now. We've gone from having heaps of experience to virtually none with our bowling attack.

"Two players influenced the game today quite quickly. One was Rolton and one was Fitzpatrick. But it's not going to be easier for any other side in this competition."

Rolton, driving powerfully, passed 2000 ODI runs early on, scored 86 off 84 balls, then took two for 17 in six overs in the middle of New Zealand's reply.

She said she was "pretty happy" with Australia's performance.

"We were looking at around 250," she said.

Rolton was pleased to be able to hit Aimee Mason out of the attack.

"It just sort of happened that way. She threw them up and did get a bit of turn and she was one of the bowlers on the day that we went after."

New Zealand's one success story was medium pacer Frances King, who took none for 18 in her opening spell as Rolton and Lisa Sthalekar (59 in 99 balls) added 123 for the second wicket.

However, King returned to take four for six in six overs to leave Australia 172 for five wickets in the 42nd over. Her dismissals of Sthalekar, Rolton, Michelle Goszko and debutant Kris Britt were all the result of poor Australian batting.

Rolton was dismissed when she hit a wide one to Mason at point. Mason had suffered a blow to her left hand from a fierce caught and bowled chance from Rolton, who had yet to get going.

Rolton then hit Mason (none for 50 off eight overs) for seven fours and a six and looked set for her ODI record-equalling (with England's Jan Brittin) fifth century before she fell.

Fitzpatrick and Julie Hayes' unbroken 45-run stand rescued the Southern Stars' total and fired Fitzpatrick for her usual pacy assault on the Ferns' batsmen.

Two double blows slowed New Zealand's run chase. The first came when Fitzpatrick dismissed Rebecca Rolls, a century-maker here last year in the Rose Bowl series, and skipper Drumm within three deliveries.

Drumm hung around after umpire Doug Cowie had given her out caught behind as she withdrew her bat.

By the 26th over, after Kate Pulford and Nicola Payne had added 59 in 21 overs, but Payne and new batsman Haidee Tiffen then went in four balls.

Forced to rebuild again, the run rate rose above six an over and New Zealand, unable to break the infield, were doomed, as Drumm recognised.

"Australia were just better in all departments today. They gave away fewer extras, they will be disappointed they didn't get to 260-270 and we were probably lucky in that regard."

She said King's bowling "really pulled it back for us, but we never really got going. We just never fired, we didn't break up the inner circle, and we were under incredible pressure to keep up with the run rate."

Australia coach Stephen Jenkin said it was "a good win first up, but we know New Zealand will improve."

The teams meet again on Waitangi Day, Thursday, February 6.