MELBOURNE: The Australian women’s cricket team thrashed New Zealand by 232 runs to record its 21st consecutive win in one-day international cricket and equal a world mark set by Ricky Ponting’s Australian men’s team in 2003.
Stand-in skipper Rachael Haynes (96) and fellow opener Alyssa Healy (87) helped the home side set an imposing 325 for five, before New Zealand crumbled to be all out for 93 at Allan Border Field.
The win, also the biggest in ODIs against the visitors, ensured Australia swept the series 3-0 after they had already beaten New Zealand 2-1 in the leadup Twenty20 series.
The Australian women haven’t been beaten in an ODI since losing to England on Oct. 29, 2017. The winning streak started in India in March 2018 and also included series wins over Pakistan, England, West Indies, Sri Lanka and New Zealand.
Regular captain Meg Lanning, who missed the match due to a hamstring strain, said, “It’s nice to finish off with a big win today. It’s a really special effort, especially over a long period of time.”
“To win 21 on the trot is something to be really proud of, and the way we have swept this series has been something that has given us a lot of pleasure,” she added.
Despite the absence of Lanning and star allrounder Ellyse Perry, who missed the series because of injury, the Australians still raced to their biggest win over New Zealand.
Australia won the Women’s Twenty20 World Cup on home soil in March and wasted no time reasserting its dominance once international cricket resumed following the long break brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.
