Record breakers! Australia go past Ponting's legends

Australia have rewritten the record books, claiming their 22nd consecutive one-day international victory in emphatic fashion with a six-wicket victory over New Zealand at Bay Oval.

Needing 213 runs to eclipse the all-time record for the most consecutive ODI victories set by Ricky Ponting's team of 2003, Alyssa Healy (65 from 68 balls) made a timely return to form before Ellyse Perry (56no from 79) and Ashleigh Gardner (53no from 41) iced the victory with 69 balls to spare.

Megan Schutt (4-32) and Nicola Carey (3-34) had earlier starred with the ball to bowl the hosts out for 212, despite White Ferns opener Lauren Down posting a career-best 90 from 134.

It continued a remarkable winning streak for Australia that started in India in March 2018, and handed Australia a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

The Aussies have not lost an ODI since October, 2017.

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Most consecutive ODI wins

22 – Australia women, 2018-21

21 – Australia men, 2003

17 – Australia women, 1997-99

16 – Australia women, 1999-2000

16 – India women, 2016-17

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However, it was New Zealand on top early in Australia's chase after Rachael Haynes edged Jess Kerr to depart for 14, and Hannah Rowe claimed the enormous wicket of captain Meg Lanning for five.

Lanning had arrived at the crease averaging 131 at Bay Oval, a venue where she's scored three of her 14 ODI tons, but she could not replicate her past heroics at the venue, leaving Australia 2-37 in the ninth over.

Needing someone to step up in the face of tight bowling from Rosemary Mair and Kerr, Healy snapped a run of single-digit scores from the T20 leg of the tour as she put on a crucial 78-run third-wicket stand with Perry.

The aggressive right-hander rode her luck; she was dropped over the long-on boundary by Lea Tahuhu for six to bring up her half-century, given a second life on 61 when Hayley Jensen couldn't hang on to a tough, one-handed return catch, before she survived a close lbw shout next ball.

Healy's luck finally ran out the following over when Amelia Kerr took a simple caught and bowled, ending her 68-ball innings on 65, and Beth Mooney's contribution was limited to 12.

One of the key differences between Australia and New Zealand is the depth of the former's batting, and No.6 Gardner ensured Healy's dismissal brought no relief for the New Zealand attack.

Her aggressive stroke play allowed Perry to simply rotate the strike at the other end.

Perry brought up her 28th ODI fifty, playing her first one-dayer in the green and gold since October 2019, while Gardner smacked the third of her three enormous sixes to reach a half-century of her own and seal the victory, an exclamation point on a world record three years in the making.

Earlier, Megan Schutt struck with her first delivery of the match after Australia unveiled a fresh new-ball pairing.

Schutt and Perry had opened the bowling in the last 14 ODIs they played together, but with the tourists keen to make the most of Tayla Vlaeminck's express pace, she was the first to be thrown the ball by Lanning.

After she delivered a maiden, a superb inswinger from Schutt got through Jensen's defenses, bowling the opener for a golden duck.

Amy Satterthwaite joined Down and they dug in to weather the combination of Vlaeminck's pace and Schutt's swing, scoring just five runs from the first five overs.

Their 69-run stand was eventually broken in the 20th over when Carey had Satterthwaite, the White Ferns' best batter, caught at mid-on for 32.

Down, who had a previous top score of 15 from 10 ODI innings, reached her half-century from 90 deliveries, forming a second key partnership with Amelia Kerr.

The pair slowly turned the momentum in the hosts' favour, attacking the leg-spin of Georgia Wareham and the pace of Vlaeminck, whose last two overs went for 21 runs after just four came off her opening four-over spell.

Their 90-run stand ended in contentious circumstances when Schutt deceived an advancing Kerr and Healy whipped off the bails. Sent upstairs, replays did not appear conclusive but television umpire Eugene Sanders determined the stumping had been successfully executed, with Kerr out for 33.

From a strong position at 2-159 in the 38th over, the White Ferns lost 8-53 in 71 balls.

Image Id: 27348A508B624AAD8D1E1240FF949297 Image Caption: Perry steered Australia home in the run chase // Getty

Katey Martin (1) was sent back after taking off for a quick single, but a desperate dive was not enough as Healy whipped off the bails after a sharp throw from Jess Jonassen.

The return of Carey in the 40th over brought the key breakthrough Australia were searching for, denying Down a maiden international century when she chipped a simple return catch back to the Australian allrounder.

Brooke Halliday (13), Maddy Green (12), Jess Kerr (3) and Rowe (13) fell in quick succession before bizarre running between the wickets between Mair and Lea Tahuhu had the former run out, ending the New Zealand innings on 212 in 48.5 overs.

Schutt finished with 4-32, while the decision to back in Carey ahead of left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux paid off, as she claimed the key wickets of Satterthwaite and Down at crucial moments and finished her 9.5 overs with figures of 3-34.

The second ODI will be played at the same venue on Wednesday, where Australia will look to retain the Rose Bowl trophy, a piece of silverware they have held since 2000.

New Zealand XI: Hayley Jensen, Lauren Down, Amy Satterthwaite (c), Amelia Kerr, Katey Martin (wk), Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Hannah Rowe, Jess Kerr, Lea Tahuhu, Rosemary Mair

Australia XI: Alyssa Healy (wk), Rachael Haynes, Meg Lanning (c), Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Ashleigh Gardner, Nicola Carey, Jess Jonassen, Georgia Wareham, Megan Schutt, Tayla Vlaeminck

CommBank tour of New Zealand 2021

Australia ODI & T20I Squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Hannah Darlington, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Molly Strano, Georgia Wareham, Belinda Vakarewa, Tayla Vlaeminck

New Zealand ODI squad: Amy Satterthwaite (capt), Lauren Down, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Hayley Jensen, Leigh Kasperek, Amelia Kerr, Jess Kerr, Frances Mackay, Rosemary Mair, Katey Martin (wk), Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu

1st T20: Australia won by six wickets

2nd T20: New Zealand won by four wickets

3rd T20: Play abandoned due to rain

1st ODI: Australia won by six wickets

2nd ODI: April 7, Bay Oval, Tauranga, 12noon AEDT

3rd ODI: April 10, Bay Oval, Tauranga, 12noon AEDT

All matches will be shown live in Australia on Fox Cricket and Kayo