Australia secured their third consecutive ICC Women’s Championship title after a dominant 75-run victory over New Zealand at Basin Reserve.
The visitors secured a 2-0 win in the ODI series of the Australia women’s tour of New Zealand in 2024.
The win marked the culmination of an outstanding campaign in which the Australian team amassed 39 points from 24 matches. Meanwhile, India can reach only 37 points with the remaining matches against West Indies and Ireland.
Ausralia women had displayed their batting depth with Alyssa Healy and Phoebe Litchfield providing a strong start through an 88 run opening stand.
Annabel Sutherland who smashed a century in the second ODI, has contributed 42 runs of 43 deliveries while Ash Gardner’s explosive 74 off 62 deliveries propelled the visitors to a formidable total of 290.
More Australian honours 🏏
Alyssa Healy’s side claim the ICC Women’s Championship as the race for automatic Women’s Cricket World Cup takes another turn 👇https://t.co/7KmE7MtN6Z
— ICC (@ICC) December 23, 2024
New Zealand seemed to be dominating first at 106/1 in the 20th over, but momentum shifted dramatically when Suzie Bates was dismissed while Melie Kerr was sent out on a run out.
Despite a promising start, the hosts were unable to recover as Australia’s bowlers took charge.
Annabel Sutherland claimed 3/39 and Alana King picked 3/34 to restrict New Zealand for 215. The victory in the third ODI has secured Australia’s bid for the ICC Women’s Championship after a win in two previous cycles (2014-16 and 2017-20).
It also secured there place in the 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup which will be played in India.
However, New Zealand’s loss leaves their qualification hopes in Jeopardy. They sit in the sixth and final automatic qualification spot with 21 points from 24 matches.
Meanwhile Bangladesh has three matches while West Indies has five matches in hand and could surpass New Zealand and relegate White Ferns to Cricket World Cup Qualifier.
However, Sri Lanka Women has advantage as Australia women’s victory ensures that they cannot be overtaken by two teams with games in hand which gaurantees their automatic qualification.
