Australia's women's cricket team seized control of the Rose Bowl series against New Zealand after achieving a rain-affected victory in the second ODI at Basin Reserve, Wellington. The match saw standout performances, particularly from Annabel Sutherland, who scored her second consecutive ODI century, guiding her team to victory by 65 runs via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method.
The weather had earlier disrupted the series opener, which was washed out, making this match all the more pivotal. Winning the toss, New Zealand's captain Sophie Devine opted to send Australia in to bat first. This decision initially appeared promising as New Zealand's bowlers managed to claim wickets at regular intervals.
Yet, it was Sutherland who strode to the crease at 110 for 4, and she proved to be the stabilizing force the Australians desperately needed. She finished unbeaten on 105 off just 81 balls, smashing 11 fours and two sixes, playing a pivotal role as Australia reached 291 for 7 at the end of their innings.
Having scored her first ODI century against India just days earlier, Sutherland's remarkable form continued to shine. She became the first woman to score back-to-back one-day centuries from number five or lower. Her innings exemplified resilience and determination as she collected half-century partnerships with Ash Gardner, Tahlia McGrath, and Kim Garth.
"I'm pretty competitive, so anytime I get an opportunity to bat, it doesn’t come too often, and getting the chance to bat at No. 5 is great. I'm trying to make the most of it," Sutherland commented post-match, showcasing her gratefulness and competitive spirit.
Molly Penfold stood out for New Zealand with career-best figures of 4 for 42, claiming the precious scalps of Alyssa Healy and Ellyse Perry. Despite her stellar performance, Penfold’s efforts fell short as Sutherland's defiance lifted Australia to above the 290 mark, a significant threshold.
New Zealand's chase began poorly, losing opener Suzie Bates early on, and things only spiraled from there. The White Ferns struggled at 76 for 4 before rain halted play, leaving them well behind the required run rate set by the DLS method at 122 for 5.
Devine reflected later on the match, acknowledging Sutherland’s impact: "Full credit to Annabel Sutherland. I thought the knock really gave them some momentum. We knew we had to be ahead of the chase … but we were unable to put the foot down fully, which probably killed us in the end."
With this victory, Australia secured a 1-0 lead in the three-match series and retained the coveted Rose Bowl, which they have held since 2000. The third ODI is scheduled next, and the rivalry between these two teams continues to heat up.
Annabel Sutherland's rise from being primarily recognized as a bowler to now being touted as one of Australia's key top-order batters marks her as one to watch not just for this series, but as Australia gears up for future competitions like the Ashes.
Looking forward, the pressure and anticipation will be palpable leading up to the next encounter on December 23, where both teams will battle for supremacy once again on New Zealand soil, as the importance of the series deepens.
