Top-order target unusual warm-up

Australia’s top-order will look to use an unusual mid-series practice match to finetune for Sunday’s third and final Commonwealth Bank ODI at Melbourne’s Junction Oval.

The Australian ODI squad will take on a Cricket Victoria XI at the St Kilda ground on Thursday, which will likely see the international players split across two sides in a 40-over-a-side hit out.

Meg Lanning’s team already have an unassailable two-nil lead in the Rose Bowl series after claiming wins in Perth and Adelaide, but with the New Zealand team in Sydney for the Governor-General’s XI match, they’re making the most an opportunity for some centre-wicket practice as they seek a series sweep.

“We haven’t trained a lot this week, so it’s a good chance to get back out there and hone a few of our skills,” Australia wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy said on Wednesday.

“No doubt the teams will be a little bit mixed and matched, so we’ll get to play against a few of our teammates which is always fun.

“It’s a good chance for us to get out there and get used to the conditions at Junction and enjoy each other’s company.”

Ellyse Perry scored her maiden one-day century in the second ODI and Rachael Haynes – promoted to opener this series in place of the absent Nicole Bolton – scored 67 in the opening game, but no other Australian batter has fifty in the series to date.

Healy fell just shy in the same game, dismissed on 46, while Beth Mooney reached 42.

After posting totals of 241 and 7-247, Healy wants to see an improved display with the bat on a Junction Oval surface that’s generally batting-friendly.

“I think we’ve fallen a little bit short with the bat, if I’m being brutally honest,” she said.

“We’ve set really competitive totals, (but) I think if we were being honest we probably left a few runs out there … especially cashing in on our last 10 overs.

“So I think that’s probably something we can work on. Pez went on to make a hundred the other day but the other three of us in that top four haven’t quite gone on so (the third ODI) be a good chance for us to get out there and hopefully cash in.”

Healy says the Australians aren’t simply satisfied with maintaining their grip on the Rose Bowl trophy – a piece of silverware they’ve held since 2000 – rather, they have their sights set on a series sweep.

“It’s nice to be two-nil up at this stage and to get a series win, but we’ve still got some unfinished business,” she said.

“It’s always a tough contest for the Rose Bowl. I think the last few times that we’ve played it we’ve actually lost the first game and had to come back to win it, so to be two-nil up is a great reflection as to where this group’s at, feeling really confident with their cricket.

“Hopefully we can cap off an amazing summer by getting another win on Sunday, we don’t want to let them back into the game somehow.”

New Zealand will play a team of Australia’s brightest young talent in the Governor-General’s XI at Drummoyne Oval on Thursday from 1.50pm local time, with the game broadcast on Fox Cricket.

The third and final ODI on Sunday, beginning 10.50am local time, will be broadcast live on Fox Sports and the Seven Network and can be live streamed via Kayo, with news, scores and highlights on cricket.com.au and the CA Live App.

CommBank ODIs v NZ 

Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Nicola Carey, Lauren Cheatle, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Elyse Villani, Georgia Wareham

New Zealand squad: Amy Satterthwaite (c), Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine, Lauren Down, Maddy Green, Hayley Jensen, Leigh Kasperek, Amelia Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Katey Martin, Katie Perkins, Anna Peterson, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu

February 22: Australia won by five runs

February 24: Australia won by 95 runs

March 3: Third ODI, Junction Oval, Melbourne