Here come the Australian openers Beth Mooney, in her 111th match, and her rookie partner Georgia Voll. For New Zealand it will Jess Kerr, in her 40th T20, opening the bowling. Here we go, folks! We have blue skies at Mount Maunganui as the players take the field. Our officials for today’s fixture are umpires Shaun Haig & Tina Semmens with Kim Cotton as third umpire and Richard Hayward as the match referee. A stirring rendition of Advance Australia Fair rings out as strong winds stir the flags. Here are the 11 women charged with keeping the series alive for New Zealand: Suzie Bates (c), Georgia Plimmer, Amelia Kerr, Sophie Devine, Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Jess Kerr, Polly Inglis (wk), Lea Tahuhu, Rosemary Mair, Eden Carson Here’s how the first game of this series unfolded… As predicted Alana King has come in for the injured Ash Gardner. Australia’s XI looks like this: Beth Mooney (wk), Georgia Voll, Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Annabel Sutherland, Tahlia McGrath (c), Grace Harris, Georgia Wareham, Alana King, Kim Garth, Darcie Brown Hello cricket fans. Welcome to the Guardian’s live coverage of the second women’s T20 international between Australia and New Zealand at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui. Australia lead the three-match series 1-0 after a thumping eight-wicket triumph over the T20 world champions New Zealand at Eden Park on Friday. That victory was led by Beth Mooney and Georgia Voll’s unbroken 77 run stand during the six overs of the power-play. The blitzkrieg partnership fired Australia to within 25 runs of their target by the halfway mark of the chase. Ultimately, the visitors cantered home with 39 balls to spare. However, Australia’s win came at a huge cost with all-rounder Ash Gardner breaking her right index finger while attempting a catch off her own bowling. She has been replaced in the squad by Queensland all-rounder Charli Knott for the rest of the tour. However, it’s more likely leg-spinner Alana King will replace Gardner for today’s game. This will be the first time Australia has played a T20I at Mount Maunganui but it has won its past eight ODIs at the venue. Play starts at 2.45pm local/12.45pm AEDT.
Author: Angus Fontaine