New Zealand v Australia: first women’s T20 international - live

54s ago 22.22 EDT WICKET! Plimmer c Sutherland b McGrath 27 (New Zealand 47-1) Georgia Plimmer targets the short boundary on the leg side but can only pick out Annabel Sutherland well inside the rope. Tahlia McGrath has rarely bowled herself in recent times but gets the crucial breakthrough. 8th over: New Zealand 50-2 (A Kerr 2, Devine 2) Share

5m ago 22.18 EDT 7th over: New Zealand 47-1 (Plimmer 27, A Kerr 1) Georgia Wareham is next up on the Australia bowling carousel and Plimmer immediately sends the leg-spinner to the boundary with a sweep to fine leg. Melie Kerr finally gets off the mark with an unconvincing stroke to deep square leg. The all-rounder has looked in better touch. Share

8m ago 22.14 EDT 6th over: New Zealand 40-1 (Plimmer 21, A Kerr 0) Plimmer again tries her luck down the ground and only just clears mid-on for a boundary off Brown. Australia keeper Beth Mooney comes up to the stumps to keep Plimmer in her crease and the tactic works a treat to slow the scoring. Clever cricket from Mooney in her 200th international. Share

11m ago 22.11 EDT 5th over: New Zealand 35-1 (Plimmer 16, A Kerr 0) Tahlia McGrath keeps the White Ferns guessing with another bowling change this time bringing Annabel Sutherland into the attack. A misfield from the skipper off the first ball relieves some of the pressure for the batters and leaves Sutherland to bowl out the over to a watchful Melie Kerr. Share

14m ago 22.09 EDT 4th over: New Zealand 32-1 (Plimmer 13, A Kerr 0) Australia get the early breakthrough with Bates on her way but might have had one earlier after Tahlia McGrath dropped a tough chance. Plimmer looks to send new bowler Darcie Brown down the ground but gets too far under the shot to give the Australia skipper half a chance. McGrath makes up good ground but can’t quite hang on to the ball while running back with the flight. Share

17m ago 22.05 EDT WICKET! Bates c Mooney b Brown 14 (New Zealand 32-1) Suzie Bates swings wildly at a delivery in the sweet spot outside off-stump and Beth Mooney is the most interested in an appeal. The on-field umpire waves it away but the review spots a nick and the White Ferns’ dangerwoman is on her way after a fiery start. Share

24m ago 21.59 EDT 3rd over: New Zealand 20-0 (Bates 14, Plimmer 6) Megan Schutt turns to her bag of tricks to fight back with a clever over to Bates. The New Zealand opener is looking to be aggressive at any opportunity, whether stepping down the track or moving outside the line to target the area behind the keeper. But Schutt’s variety has the better of her with five dot balls and only a couple conceded over midwicket. Share

28m ago 21.55 EDT 2nd over: New Zealand 18-0 (Bates 12, Plimmer 6) Australia turn to spin with Ash Gardner taking the new ball. Georgia Plimmer is straight onto the back foot to find a gap behind point for a couple, then dances down the pitch to loft Gardner back over her head to the rope. New Zealand are targeting the short boundaries well. Share

31m ago 21.51 EDT 1st over: New Zealand 12-0 (Bates 12, Plimmer 0) A blazing start from White Ferns captain Suzie Bates with a trio of exquisite strokes in a row. The first is clipped off her pads to the boundary, the next is the pick of the bunch with a sublime cut and she finishes with a drive through cover. Not much movement for Schutt early. Cut through point by Suzie Bates! 12 runs come off the opening Megan Schutt over here at Eden Park. Follow play LIVE and free in NZ on TVNZ 1, TVNZ+ and Sport Nation NZ. LIVE scoring | https://t.co/TeUiU5dqwk 📲 #NZvAUS #CricketNation pic.twitter.com/aLLJq2Ib7E — WHITE FERNS (@WHITE_FERNS) March 21, 2025 Share Updated at 22.22 EDT

36m ago 21.47 EDT The national anthems are complete and New Zealand openers Suzie Bates and Georgia Plimmer have made their way to the middle. Australia quick Megan Schutt marks out her run and we’re about to get under way … game on! Share

38m ago 21.45 EDT Tahlia McGrath conceded to Guardian Australia that her side will have to quickly adapt to the unusual dimensions of Eden Park – typically a rugby venue – against New Zealand today. Australia’s women have played one T20I at the Auckland venue back in 2021 … and that was abandoned after only 2.5 overs. This is how the venue looked just two weeks ago. View image in fullscreen Eden Park during a Super Rugby Pacific match between Blues and Brumbies. Photograph: Andrew Cornaga/AAP Share

46m ago 21.37 EDT Australia have become much more familiar with being the hunted over the past decade or more but this time have reason to make a strong statement against the T20 world champions. Tahlia McGrath is stand-in skipper with Alyssa Healy sidelined and explained to Guardian Australia that her side is carrying extra motivation into the three-match series in New Zealand. They’re the world champions and that’s what we want to be. There is a little bit extra on the line for us. We want to go out there and play some really good cricket and come away with, ideally, a 3-0 series win against the world champs. Australia face T20 world champions New Zealand in unfamiliar role of hunter | Martin Pegan Read more Share

50m ago 21.32 EDT New Zealand XI The White Ferns are back with a more familiar line up as nine players that were part of the XI in the T20 World Cup final return to face Australia. Veteran seamer Lea Tahuhu is back to boost the pace attack while promising batter Bella James will have to wait for her opportunity. New Zealand: Suzie Bates (capt), Georgia Plimmer, Melie Kerr, Sophie Devine, Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Jess Kerr, Polly Inglis (wk), Lea Tahuhu, Rosemary Mair, Eden Carson. All set for Game One at Eden Park! Batting first after a toss win for Suzie Bates. Follow play LIVE and free in NZ on TVNZ 1, TVNZ+ and Sport Nation NZ. LIVE scoring | https://t.co/ihvdHddG2I 📲 #NZvAUS #CricketNation pic.twitter.com/RZIaMUdBV2 — WHITE FERNS (@WHITE_FERNS) March 21, 2025 Share

1h ago 21.27 EDT Australia XI Australia pick an XI packed with all-round talent that comfortably bats as deep as Georgia Wareham at No 9, withy the leg-spinner preferred to Alana King in conditions expected to favour swing and seam. Young quick Darcie Brown will partner Megan Schutt with the new ball, while Beth Mooney will later open in her 200th international. Australia: Beth Mooney (wk), Georgia Voll, Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Ash Gardner, Annabel Sutherland, Tahlia McGrath (capt), Grace Harris, Georgia Wareham, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown. Share Updated at 21.29 EDT

1h ago 21.22 EDT New Zealand win the toss and will bat Suzie Bates has stepped into the role of White Ferns captain with aplomb as the veteran opener wins the toss at Eden Park and elects to bat. Share Updated at 21.24 EDT

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