Cricket: Blues back as Ferns tumble

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Hours after the netballers had helped partly to redress the transtasman sporting balance, the Australian women's cricket team yesterday hammered a further nail in the Kiwi coffin.

The Australians won the opening match of the World Cup in Christchurch by six wickets.

Chasing a modest 167, the defending champions, led by an unbeaten half-century from experienced allrounder Karen Rolton, won with two and a half overs to spare.

The start of play was delayed for just over an hour because of overnight rain.

In weather more fitting for a chilly winter's day at footy, Australia capitalised on winning the toss and asking the White Ferns to bat on a pitch with a distinctly friendly green tinge.

With promoted opener Rebecca Rolls lasting just two balls from Therese McGregor's first over, New Zealand were quickly reminded of the demands of international cricket.

The much-vaunted pairing of captain Emily Drumm and Debbie Hockley brought some slow respectability before Hockley's 45-minute, 11-run stay was cut short by McGregor, who enticed a weak shot from the New Zealander in her record-breaking 37th cup outing.

With Drumm already back in the pavilion being treated for a nasty blow on her left elbow, the home side were pondering a dismal day.

McGregor did remarkably well to bowl her 10 overs of brisk medium pace into the chilly southerly without a break.

She kept New Zealand under pressure with some subtle variations which earned her a career-best four for 18. Later, she was named player of the match.

Drumm returned and pulled things around, adding 71 with Kathryn Ramel for the sixth wicket before Ramel's 74-minute stay was ended by West Australian off-spinner Avril Fahey.

Drumm battled on, but paid the price of trying to force the pace in holing out for 74 in what proved to be Rolton's last over.

In snaring Rachel Pullar with her next delivery, Rolton left New Zealand teetering at 138 for eight with seven overs remaining.

Clare Nicholson gave the tail a bit of a shake and was still there at the close, but the 167-run target set for the Australians was never going to be enough.

The New Zealanders took some heart when they grabbed the precious wicket of Australian captain and prolific runscorer Belinda Clark.

But that early success for Katrina Keenan sparked only short-lived hope as Lisa Keightley and Louisa Broadbent added 59 for the second wicket.

With the visitors 84 for three after 30 overs, the game was nicely poised, but left-handers Rolton and Cherie Brambury added 71 for the fourth wicket to end any local hopes.

Captain Drumm summed it up simply: "A score of 166 is not defendable against Australia on this ground. We needed to look at 200-plus, but with a slow outfield early on and with runs not coming, we were always going to struggle."

Today, England play the Netherlands and India meet South Africa. Tomorrow, NZ meet Ireland and Australia clash with Sri Lanka.