Cricket: Coyte key in Aussie T20 win

Aimee Watkins. File Photo / APN

A superb debut performance from youngster Sarah Coyte saw Australia take out the second T20 women's cricket match against New Zealand in Nelson yesterday.

Coyte featured with bat and ball, and also sparked a couple of run-outs as the Australians eased to a four-wicket win.

New Zealand never really fired with the bat after winning the toss, only captain Aimee Watkins with 39 and Sara McGlashan's 48 from 38 balls providing any substance to their innings of 122 for nine off 20 overs.

Coyte finished with 2-14 from her four overs, and was on a hat-trick after bowling Liz Perry for a duck then trapping Nic Browne leg before with consecutive balls in the 11th over.

She also featured with some sharp fielding which saw Lucy Doolan and Erin Bermingham run out.

The White Ferns bowlers battled hard to restrict the free-scoring Australians, and tasted early success before Coyte - who finished unbeaten on 14 from 17 - and Alyssa Healy saw them home with two balls to spare.

Sian Ruck claimed an early victim when she had opener Meg Lanning caught behind by stand-in keeper Katey Martin for 10.

Lanning chased a wider delivery from Ruck, and Martin, taking the gloves for injured keeper Rachel Priest, took a sharp catch standing up to Ruck's swinging medium-pacers.

The dangerous Shelley Nitschke was next to go, four balls into the sixth over, run out for 17 off 14 balls courtesy of some sharp close-in New Zealand fielding.

Ruck's second victim came in the next over, Leah Poulton gone for 13 after holing out to Liz Perry at deep mid wicket.

The vastly experienced Lisa Sthalekar lasted only two balls for Australia before she was trapped plumb in front by the drifting leg spin of Bermingham without scoring.

With Australia wavering at 43 for four, captain Alex Blackwell and Jess Cameron set about rescuing the innings and put on 33 for the fifth wicket.

Pace bowler Browne put paid to the threatening partnership in the first ball of the 14th over, trapping Blackwell leg before wicket for 14 off 19 balls.

She followed that up three balls later in dismissing Cameron for 20, clean bowled as she looked to run a straight ball down to third man.

With Australia teetering at 79 for six, Healy and Coyte remained cool, maintaining composure to steer Australia home.

The first T20 match three days ago in Hamilton was rained out.

- NZPA