Cricket: White Ferns take down Australia

Beth Mooney of Australia is bowled against New Zealand. Photo / Getty

New Zealand have emulated their ODI series start with another first-up win over Australia to mark the start of their three-game T20 women's series at the Basin Reserve today.

The difference, New Zealand hope, will be a series win, after dropping games two and three in the ODIs at Mt Maunganui.

Having sent Australia in, and restricted them to 113 for seven in their 20 overs, New Zealand won the match by four wickets, Katey Martin's sweep to the boundary securing the win with nine balls to spare.

The player of the match performance came in the first half of the game, from spinner Leah Kasparek, who took four for seven off her three overs.

Australian skipper Meg Lanning was the only player to pass 20, making 30 off 28 balls.
Captain Suzie Bates, with 33 off 32, and other experienced players Sara McGlashan and Amy Satterthwaite, with 22 apiece, provided the bulk of New Zealand's winning chase.

''We didn't have enough runs on the board," Lanning said after the match. ''Well played New Zealand, they bowled extremely well."

New Zealand skipper Bates was delighted the way her side started with the ball, ''and the way we batted at the start showed we wanted to go hard at the ball and get the runs as soon as we could."

Key player Sophie Devine injured a quad muscle and is in doubt for the next game, also at the Basin Reserve on Tuesday.