Australia hints at potential shift for key all-rounder ahead of World Cup

TAKING the Trans-Tasman series three wins to none, Australia will be happy with its performances against New Zealand ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.

After securing a five-wicket win in game three, the Australians continued to rotate their pace bowling stocks, choosing to rest Darcie Brown in favour of Tayla Vlaeminck – the former having just returned from injury prior to the series.

All-rounder Grace Harris and fast bowler Kim Garth were still sidelined with injury, however they will likely be available for the World Cup.

The White Ferns were looking to end their nine game losing streak, bringing in Rosemary Mair and Hannah Rowe for Molly Penfold and Lea Tahuhu.

For Australia, it was the efforts with ball and bat that solidified Georgia Wareham as the Player of the Match. In the first innings, it was Wareham claimed the vital wickets of veteran Suzie Bates (19 off 17), off the first ball, and the highest New Zealand run-scorer Georgia Plimmer, who scored her maiden T20 half-century.

The wicket of Plimmer would set up the innings for the Kiwis, if not for the quick fall of wickets thereafter. Having made 146 runs, New Zealand would have to bowl well to keep the Aussies from the clean sweep.

Enter Wareham, who backed up her bowling, with a quickfire 26 runs off 16 balls to set up Ellyse Perry and Ash Gardner‘s game-winning partnership (61 runs). This knock featured four boundaries before she fell to a delivery from Rowe.

Coming in at three, Wareham’s role might be a nod to Australia’s versatility and perhaps a different look for the batting line-up.

In March, Wareham was elevated to the role at first drop against the Australians’ tour of Bangladesh. She continues to be dangerous in that role due to her power-hitting and growing confidence in her batting.

The Australians were cruising to their total with Gardner and Perry in control in the middle, when Fran Jonas struck to remove Perry with 10 runs left to get. A few balls later and it was Gardner who fell to Eden Carson.

With Phoebe Litchfield and Tahlia McGrath newly arriving at the crease, the equation was simple, 10 runs from 11 balls for victory. Continuing to play some fine shots, Litchfield was dropped after it looked like she could take the game herself.

The game went down to the last over but McGrath managed four off Brooke Halliday to seal the clean sweep.