Lanning-led Australia sweeps one-day Rose Bowl series
Australia’s women’s cricket team has capped a glorious summer with a whitewash victory in its one-day international series against New Zealand.
Having already retained the Rose Bowl trophy, Meg Lanning’s side cruised to a seven-wicket win in Sunday’s third and final ODI at Melbourne’s Junction Oval.
The hosts restricted New Zealand to 8-231, then chased down its target with 13 balls to spare.
Lanning shook off her lacklustre performances in the opening two matches to post 48, while Ellyse Perry top scored with 54 not out.
Meg Lanning and her Australian teammates celebrate with the Rose Bowl trophy after game three at Junction Oval in Melbourne on Sunday. Photo: Getty
Undefeated since losing to India at the group stage of the T20 World Cup – a defeat that proved to be a blip on the way to winning the trophy – Australia has dropped just two of 26 matches since the start of 2018.
Having wrapped up a gruelling summer of international and domestic commitments, the side will regroup and prepare for the Ashes tour starting in July.
The hosts barely put a foot wrong in a clinical chase that began with Rachael Haynes and Alyssa Healy compiling an 84-run opening stand.
Haynes’ dismissal brought Lanning to the crease and the 26-year-old looked in good touch before holing out at mid off.
Perry, who scored her maiden ODI century in Adelaide a week earlier, then steered the hosts home with Beth Mooney (35 not out).
Teammates congratulate off-spinner Ashleigh Gardner after dismissing Hayley Jensen. Photo: Getty
Off-spinner Ashleigh Gardner (3-49) also starred for the hosts, who had taken an unassailable 2-0 series lead with a 95-run win in Adelaide.
Sophie Devine (58), Amy Satterthwaite (49) and Katie Perkins (41) made starts for New Zealand but were unable to go on with them.
The destructive Devine celebrated reaching her 12th ODI half-century by blasting Gardner for six over the long-off boundary.
But Gardner soon had her revenge, trapping Devine lbw, while a super direct hit run-out by Jess Jonassen left Satterthwaite one run short of a fifty.
The sustained pressure Australia was able to apply in the field was reflected by the tourists losing three batters to run-outs in the final 10 overs.
Leg-spinner Georgia Wareham also chipped in with two wickets.
An unbeaten fifty for Ellyse Perry (of course) as the @SouthernStars cap off a dominant summer with a 3-0 Rose Bowl win over NZ! #AUSvNZ pic.twitter.com/jzJWqGID02
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) March 3, 2019