Reigning champions Australia began their campaign in ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 with a resounding win in the end by 89 runs in Indore. Australia who were put under the pump by New Zealand showed character and grit to power out of that predicament and be the victors after the first game. Winning the toss and deciding to bat first, Australia were 128/5 but was rescued by a brilliant 115 from Ashleigh Gardner and support from others around him took the score to 326 all out. Jess Kerr and Lea Tahuhu picked up 3 wickets apiece while Amelia Kerr and Bree Illing picked up 2 wickets apiece.
In reply, Australia survived the Sophie Devine show as the New Zealand captain scored 111 off 112 balls but lack of support meant they were bowled out for 237 in 43.2 overs with Sophie Molineux and Annabel Sutherland picking up 3 wickets apiece while Alana King picked up a couple of wickets while there were 2 run outs in the innings. Australia with a resounding win are at the top of the points table ahead of India on Net Run Rate in the early goings of the tournament.
Ashleigh Gardner’s Superlative Ton Powers Australia to 326 in 49.3 overs
Winning the toss and deciding to bat first, Alyssa Healy and Phoebe Litchfield came out to open the batting for Australia while Bree Illing had ball in hand for New Zealand. Healy made her intentions clear as she flicked it to right of deep square leg for a boundary. Jess Kerr had ball in hand from the other end. Healy flicked away past mid-on for a boundary off Jess. Litchfield got into the act as she drove Jess past extra cover for a boundary.
Healy hit Illing for a boundary through the cover and point region. Litchfield was on a roll too as she took the aerial route and sliced it away over point for a boundary. Litchfield took the attack to Kerr by sweeping it to deep fine leg for a boundary. Litchfield then went straight over the bowler’s head for a boundary as she brought up 1000 runs in ODIs. Illing then got the breakthrough for New Zealand getting rid of Healy for 19 off 17 balls with 3 fours to her name.
Illing bowled a full delivery outside off-stump. Healy shimmied down the track and made room on the leg side to loft it over covers. She didn’t get anywhere near from the middle of the bat and ended up lobbying it straight into the hands of Suzie Bates who took a simple catch. Ellyse Perry came out to bat next.
Jess Kerr continued as Perry crunched it through covers for a cracking boundary to get off the mark. Litchfield was on a roll as she launched Illing by shimming down the track and lofted it over extra cover for the maximum. Litchfield hit Illing for a boundary by opening the face of the bat and steering it to short third and backward point region.
Sophie Devine came into the attack next. Perry cut Devine away through short third and backward point region for a boundary. Litchfield then flicked the loose ball past the midwicket region for a boundary. Perry hit Devine for a boundary by flicking it away to deep midwicket region. Litchfield got into the act as she launched the bowler down the ground over mid-off for the maximum. At the end of first powerplay, after 10 overs Australia were flying high at 81/1.
Amelia Kerr came into the attack after this phase and made an immediate impact getting rid of Litchfield for 45 off 31 balls with 6 fours and 2 sixes to her name. Amelia from over the wicket bowled a googly on a length on the leg stump and drew Litchfield on the front foot. She looked to defend with a straight bat and got beaten on the outside edge as the ball went onto hit the off-stump. Beth Mooney came out to bat next. She got off the mark soon.
Devine continued and bowled a decent over. Perry took the attack to Kerr taking the aerial route over mid-off for a boundary. Devine kept things under check. Mooney took advantage of a loose ball from Kerr as she rocked back and cut it away to backward point for a boundary. After 15 overs, Australia were 99/2 as players took the first Drinks Break at this stage.
Lea Tahuhu came into the attack after the break. The 100 came up for Australia in 15.4 overs. Kerr continued as Perry stepped down the track looking for the googly and got the outside edge past the keeper and away to the third man fence for a lucky boundary. Tahuhu got the breakthrough as she removed Perry for 33 off 41 balls with 5 fours to her name.
Tahuhu bowled a length delivery on the off-stump line. Perry jumped down the track and didn’t get underneath it. She swung to clear the infield down the ground but launched it straight up in the air. Suzie Bates at mid-off settled underneath it and took a good catch. Annabel Sutherland came out to bat next. She got off the mark soon. Kerr continued as Sutherland drove her through extra covers for a boundary. Kerr hit back a few balls later getting rid of Sutherland for 5 off 8 balls with a boundary to her name.
Amelia bowled a flighted delivery on length, closer to the off-stump line. Sutherland danced down the track to clear the infield. She didn’t get to the pitch of the ball and lofted it off the bottom of the bat in the safe hands of Bates at mid-on. Ashleigh Gardner came out to bat next. Gardner managed to hit a boundary away off Tahuhu by punching it through deep cover for a boundary. Halliday made the effort but the ball won the race. After 20 overs, Australia were 120/4.
Amelia Kerr continued as Gardner smashed her through the covers for a boundary. Tahuhu then got rid of Beth Mooney for 12 off 21 balls with a boundary to her name. Tahuhu bowled on a length outside the off-stump line. Mooney committed on the front foot early drove it in the air straight to Amelia Kerr at extra cover. She took a step backwards and comfortably took the catch around the shoulder height. Tahlia McGrath came out to bat next. She got off the mark with a boundary as McGrath clipped it in front of square between deep midwicket and square leg for a boundary.
Illing bowled a miserly over. Eden Carson came into the attack. McGrath drove her through extra cover and mid-off for a boundary. Gardner then hit Illing for a boundary by flat batting it over mid-on as the bowler overstepped. The free hit yielded a boundary through mid-on and midwicket for a boundary as Australia soared past 150 in the 25th over. After 25 overs at the halfway stage of the innings, Australia were 157/5.
Eden Carson continued as Gardner drove her handsomely through the covers for a boundary. Sophie Devine returned to the bowling crease and bowled a decent over. Jess Kerr came back into the attack and bowled a decent over. Devine too kept things under check. The 50-run stand came up between Gardner and McGrath. Gardner broke the shackles as she hit Jess Kerr for a boundary straight down the ground over mid-off. After 30 overs, Australia were 185/5.
Amelia Kerr bowled a tight over as the umpires called for the Drinks Break. Tahuhu returned to the attack after the break. McGrath punished Tahuhu by slapping it to deep cover for a boundary. Tahuhu struck for her side as she removed McGrath for 26 off 34 balls with 3 boundaries to her name. Tahuhu bowled full and on the middle and leg stump, McGrath looked to flick it uppishly but didn’t commit to the stroke fully. She ended up chipping the ball straight to Amelia Kerr at short midwicket. Sophie Molineux came out to bat next.
Amelia continued as Gardner launched her down the ground over long-off for the maximum as she got to her half-century in 43 balls. The 200 came up for Australia in 32.3 overs. Gardner hit Kerr for a boundary as she rocked back to short and down leg delivery and pulled it to deep backward square leg for a boundary. Molineux punched Tahuhu down the ground for a boundary past diving mid-off fielder. She was not done yet as she launched Tahuhu over deep fine leg for the maximum.
Eden Carson returned for another spell. She bowled a decent over. Jess Kerr returned to the bowling crease. She too kept things under check. Gardner broke the shackles as she hit it down the ground by clearing her front leg and launched it over mid-off. Gardner next hit Jess Kerr for back-to-back boundaries to deep fine leg and to the right of extra cover. But Kerr hit back by getting rid of Molineux for 14 off 19 balls with one four and one six to her name. ‘
Jess Kerr bowled full and on the leg stump. Molineux cleared her front leg and looked to go up and over long-on. She didn’t get the timing right as Sophie Devine settled underneath it to keep her calm near the ropes to take a fine catch. Kim Garth came out to bat next and got off the mark straightaway. Amelia Kerr came back into the attack as Garth went deep in her crease to pull it away to deep square leg for a boundary. Tahuhu continued and bowled a decent 40th over at the end of which Australia were 252/7.
Amelia Kerr continued and bowled a decent over and ended her spell. Tahuhu continued and kept things under control. Eden Carson came back into the attack and bowled another decent over. Gardner finally broke the shackles as she hammered Devine past extra cover along the ground for a boundary. Garth got into the act as he played the late cut between short third man and keeper for a boundary.
Carson continued as Gardner went inside out into the gap over vacant extra cover for a boundary. At the end of 45 overs, Australia were 283/7. Ashleigh Gardner got to her second ODI ton with a magnificent boundary off Sophie Devine as she drove her through the covers and mid-off for a boundary. She got her hundred in 77 balls and then hit another boundary down the ground off Devine. Gardner was not done yet as he punished Devine by swivelling across and got it off the bat through backward square leg.
Billing came back as Garth shuffled across and scooped it over fine leg for the boundary and the bowler overstepped as well. Free Hit yielded a single. Gardner threw her hands at the fuller length delivery and got a thick outside edge up and over backward point region. Illing then ended Gardner’s vigil at the crease dismissing her for 115 off 83 balls with 16 fours and a maximum to her name. Illing bowled on a good length delivery outside the off-stump. Gardner stepped outside the crease to go big once more and got a faint outside edge to Izzy Gaze who made no mistake as a wonderful knock came to an end. Alana King came out to bat next and got off the mark straightaway.
Jess Kerr came and bowled the 48th over and kept things tight. Illing was given the 49th over as Garth welcomed him back to the bowling crease with a boundary past diving mid-off. Garth again stepped down the track and whacked the ball hard. The ball cleared the infield and cleared mid-off as well. Australia were 325/8 in 49 overs. Jess Kerr was tasked to bowl the final over of the innings. She removed Alana King for 4 off 7 balls. From over the wicket, she bowled a length delivery outside off-stump. King cleared her front leg hoping the ball would be in his arc but it was not full enough. He swung hard down the ground from the bottom half of the bat and found Bates at mid-off. Darcie Brown was the last man in and got off the mark as well.
But Jess Kerr dismissed Garth for 38 off 38 balls with 5 fours to her name. Kerr bowled a good length slow ball outside off-stump. Garth cleared the front leg going for a big swing in the leg side and hit it high in the air and picked out Georgia Plimmer at deep midwicket. Darcie Brown was unbeaten on 1 off 1 ball as Australia’s innings came to an end at 326 in 49.3 overs. 14 extras given by the Indian bowlers.
Jess Kerr finished with 3/59 in 8.3 overs. Jess Kerr chipped in as always with figures of 3/59 in 8.3 overs. Amelia Kerr bowled really well for her 2/54 in 10 overs. Lea Tahuhu came back really well as she finished with 3/42 in 8 overs. Sophie Devine went wicketless in her 8 overs for 55 runs while Eden Carson bowled 6 overs and gave away 39 runs. Both remained wicketless then, This meant the target for New Zealand was 327 for the win in 50 overs. A target which is difficult but not impossible at this stage.
Sophie Devine’s century goes in vain as Australia notch up an easy win
Chasing 327 for the win, Suzie Bates and Georgia Plimmer came out to open for New Zealand while Kim Garth had ball in hand for Australia. New Zealand got off the worst possible start as a mix-up between the two batters saw Plimmer being run out for a diamond duck without facing a ball. Amelia Kerr came out to bat next. Sophia Molineux had ball in hand to operate from the other end. They appealed against Bates and took DRS but they burnt it as the review was poor. Soon, Molineux removed Suzie Bates for a duck.
Molineux bowled a well flighted delivery on length pitching a shade outside off-stump holding its line. Bates was drawn forward to play an expansive drive and dragged it back onto the stumps. Sophie Devine came out to bat next. Garth continued and after 16 balls, New Zealand scored a run. Devine broke the shackles finally as she rocked back and cut it past the diving King at point to her right. Garth bowled another tidy over. Molineux bowled another tight over.
Garth too kept things under check as run scoring was difficult to begin with. Kerr finally got a boundary to her name by crunching the ball between midwicket and mid-on for a boundary. Garth bowled a miserly over yet again. Darcie Brown was introduced into the attack to bowl the final over of powerplay. Kerr stood tall and wafted at the ball opening the face of the bat and guided it to the left of the diving backward point fielder for a boundary.
Kerr was not done yet against Brown as she hit her for consecutive boundaries through midwicket region and a gorgeous cover drive through the cover region to end the over. After the end of the powerplay in 10 overs, New Zealand Women were 36/2. Annabel Sutherland came into the attack next. She started with a miserly over. Kerr once again punished Brown as the low full toss on the off-stump line was driven delightfully between mid-off and extra cover for a boundary.
Devine got into the act as she took on Brown yet again punching off the back foot past extra cover for a boundary. Devine then hit Sutherland for a boundary by climbing on the front foot and driving to extra cover region. The 50-run stand came up between the two players. Alana King came into the attack next and she bowled a miserly over. Devine hits Sutherland by beating backward point as the ball raced away to the fence. King bowled another miserly over. New Zealand were 62/2 in 16 overs when the umpires called for the Drinks Break.
Sutherland conceded 4 leg byes to the batting side. King continued as Devine cut hard behind square to the right of backward point. Ashleigh Gardner came into the attack next. Gardner bowled a miserly first over. Alana King broke the budding stand as Amelia Kerr fell for 33 off 56 balls with 5 fours to her name. King tossed it up outside the off-stump line. Amelia Kerr got on the front foot looking to smash it through extra cover. She played an uppish drive straight in the hands of Phoebe Litchfield at extra cover. Brooke Halliday came out to bat next. Halliday got off the mark with a boundary by lofting it over mid-on. After 20 overs, New Zealand were 80/3 and in a spot of bother.
Gardner returned and bowled a tight miserly over. King too kept things tight with her disciplined bowling. Gardner was also not giving anything away either. Molineux returned to the bowling crease as runs came in singles at this stage. Devine finally broke the shackles as she hit this by stepping down the track and lofted it over the bowler’s head for the maximum. The 100 came up for New Zealand in 24.3 overs. At the end of 25 overs at the halfway stage of the chase, New Zealand were 100/3 and needed a further 227 from the back 25 overs.
Molineux continued and bowled another tidy over. Kim Garth came back into the attack as Devine reached her fifty off 69 balls as this was her 17th ODI fifty. Molineux kept things tight and made it difficult for New Zealand to score. Garth continued as Devine broke the shackles by steering the ball past the short third man for a boundary. Alana King returned for another spell as Halliday took her on and deposited it over deep midwicket for the maximum. Halliday hit another boundary off King by pulling it to deep square leg. But King hit back and got rid of Halliday for 28 off 38 balls with 2 fours and a maximum to her name.
King tossed it up fuller and at the off-stump. Halliday got down on one knee and looked to go for another maximum with a slog sweep. She was not able to get the elevation or power behind the stroke. She hit it straight down the throat of Phoebe Litchfield who took it easily. Maddy Green came out to the middle. New Zealand were 127/4 in 30 overs.
Devine then hit Garth by drilling through the covers for a boundary. Devine hit another boundary two balls later by pulling it over Gardner at deep midwicket for a boundary. Green then hit King for a boundary to short third man who fumbled and allowed the ball to go to the fence. After 32 overs, New Zealand were 146/4 as the second Drinks Break was taken and then we had rain interruption.
Sutherland returned to the bowling crease as the 150 came up for New Zealand in 32.3 overs. Green took the attack to King next by hitting him for back-to-back boundaries by playing the late cut and then the next ball came down the track and launched it over the bowler’s head for a boundary. Sutherland continued as we had another run out to dismiss a batter. Total miscommunication led to Green being run out for 20 off 18 balls with 3 fours to her name. Isabella Gaze came to the crease next.
Brown returned to the attack and Devine was in the mood to punish the opposition today. She hit Brown for four consecutive boundaries to make her intentions and the team’s as well for the coming games as Brown had a real off-day with bat in hand. Sutherland continued and bowled a decent over. Gaze now took the attack to Brown by smashing her for two consecutive boundaries down the ground and then through deep square leg as well. Gaze hit another boundary through mid-off and covers.
The 200 came up for New Zealand in 38.1 overs. Sutherland bowled another miserly over. Gardner returned to the attack as Gaze hit the premier spinner for a hat-trick of boundaries as the 50-run stand came up between the two players. After 40 overs, New Zealand were 217/5 and looked good to get much more. Molineux returned to the bowling crease and she got rid of Gaze for 28 off 18 balls with 6 fours to her name.
Molineux tossed it up fuller and slower through the air. Gaze stepped down the track and looked to clear long-on but didn’t get the power on timing on the stroke. She hits it straight down the throat of Sutherland who took a simple catch. Molineux broke the partnership when it was required. Jess Kerr came out to bat next. She got off the mark straightaway. Devine then launched Gardner over deep midwicket for the maximum as the captain got to her 9th ODI hundred and took the applause from the crowd. Devine was not done yet as she got down on one knee and slog swept it over deep square leg for the maximum.
Sutherland returned and got rid of the big fish Devine for 112 off 112 balls with 12 fours and 3 sixes to her name. Sutherland bowled from over the wicket a length ball slower one on middle stump line. Devine looked to slog it across the line, but didn’t pick the change in pace from Sutherland. She got through the shot too early and missed a straighter one that cannoned onto the stumps. Lea Tahuhu walked out to bat next. Sutherland had another in the over as she removed Jess Kerr for 2 off 3 balls.
Sutherland bowled a length ball outside off-stump with pace on the ball nipped back in from the surface. Jess Kerr was expecting a slower one and looked to whip it across the line and is beaten on the inside edge and lost her off-stump. Eden Carson came out to bat next. Sutherland struck again removing Carson for a golden duck as she had three in the over. She bowled a length ball outside off-stump nipping back in off the surface. Carson looked to flick but missed on the inside edge and wore it on the front pad. There was no Ultra-Edge and was three reds on ball tracking. The umpire gave it OUT but the batter reviewed in hope and saw three reds to burn the review. Bree Illing came out to bat at 11.
Sophie Molineux finished things off in style dismissing Illing for a bronze duck. Molineux from over the wicket bowled a full delivery tossed up on the leg stump which turned in a shade. Illing made room on the leg side and looked to smash it down the ground. She got an inside edge that is taken by Healy behind the stumps. The umpire raised the finger. She reviewed in hope and saw the spike on Ultra Edge. New Zealand were bowled out for 237 in 43.2 overs with Tahuhu remaining unbeaten on 1 off 2 balls. 14 extras given by the fielding side.
Sophie Molineux was the star with the ball with figures of 3/35 in 8.2 overs. Annabel Sutherland was great in the death overs as she finished with 3/26 in 9 overs. Alana King finished with 2/44 in 8 overs. There were two run outs in the innings. Kim Garth gave away 34 runs in 8 overs. Darcie Brown was clobbered for 51 runs in 4 overs. Ashleigh Gardner went for 47 runs in 6 overs. So, Australia win by 89 runs and for her superlative hundred in the first innings, Ashleigh Gardner was awarded Player of the Match.
What Lies Ahead
The bandwagon shifts from Indore now to Colombo where we will see the battle of the qualifiers and minnows as Bangladesh takes on Pakistan at 3 PM on 2nd October 2025. Both teams looking to make a mark and name for themselves. We could be in for an interesting display in this game. Tough to call a winner in this game. Hope cricket is the winner at the end of it all.
Also Read: ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025: Ashleigh Gardner’s Superlative 2nd ODI Ton Powers Australia Past 300.