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Find your Sport Nation frequencyAustralia survive Kerr heroics to complete White Ferns whitewash
Oliver Caffrey, AAP • March 26th, 2025 7:31 pm
Photo: Kerry Marshall/Photosport
Australia have recorded a ninth-straight Twenty20 win against the White Ferns, surviving a Melie Kerr-inspired chase to complete an eight-run victory in Wellington.
The reigning T20 world champions after a shock triumph at last year's tournament in the UAE, New Zealand were humbled by their nemesis once again in a 3-0 whitewash.
Chasing Australia's imposing 180/4 at Sky Stadium on Wednesday, NZ managed 172/8 in an innings highlighted by star allrounder Melie Kerr's impressive 66.
Kerr and Maddy Green (62) threatened to pull off the White Ferns' highest successful run chase in T20s when they came together in trouble at 54/4.
The pair put on a rollicking 99-run stand, before Green was inexplicably run-out by a brilliant Georgia Wareham throw when the hosts had gained all the momentum.
Reigning Belinda Clark Award-winner Annabel Sutherland was smashed by Kerr for a four off the first ball of the 19th over.
But Sutherland hit back in dramatic fashion, claiming three wickets in four balls to finish the over with figures of 4-35.
Australia have not lost to their trans-Tasman rivals in the shortest format of the game since March 30, 2021.
Earlier, emerging star Georgia Voll blasted her highest Twenty20 score as she and fellow opener Beth Mooney (21) again led the way.
Voll whacked 75 from 57 balls, surpassing her previous best of 50, before she was bowled by New Zealand captain Suzie Bates.
The opening pair registered their third-straight stand of more than 50 after dominating in Auckland and Tauranga.
The 21-year-old rode her luck during the innings, dropped three times by the sloppy hosts.
"I think I'm going to head to the lotto store and buy one (a ticket) after this game," Voll said.
"It was nice to be able to come out the other side, battle a little bit, but to get us in a good position was pleasing."
Dropped catches plague White Ferns in Wellington | Sport Nation Cricket
Voll has made a huge impact since making her Australian debut last December, filling in at the top of the order for injured captain Alyssa Healy.
Star allrounder Ellyse Perry hit an unbeaten 32 to power Australia to an imposing total once Voll was dismissed in the 15th over.
Bates, Melie Kerr, Rosemary Mair and Sophie Devine all took one wicket each for New Zealand.
Devine, who has only recently returned to cricket following a mental health break, was visibly emotional during the anthem before the match.
Quick Darcie Brown flew back to Australia for family reasons, with veteran Megan Schutt replacing her in the XI.
