World Cup carnage: Clinical Aussies thrash NZ

Ashleigh Gardner's stunning return from COVID-19 isolation has helped Australia thrash arch-rivals New Zealand by 141 runs in their trans-Tasman World Cup showdown in Wellington.

Gardner, who was only released from isolation in Christchurch on Saturday morning after testing positive on the eve of the tournament, smacked an unbeaten 48 from just 18 balls to guide Australia to an imposing – and at one point unlikely – 8-269 at the Basin Reserve.

A commanding display with the ball led by Darcie Brown (3-22) then saw New Zealand skittled for 128 in 30.2 overs, ensuring Australia remain undefeated and on top of the table after three matches.

Hard-hitting allrounder Gardner arrived at the crease in the 46th over and rode her luck, belting four maximums to finish with a strike rate of 266.66 – the highest ever in women's ODIs for a 30-plus score.

Her brazen knock combined with a superb century partnership from Ellyse Perry (68 from 86) and Tahlia McGrath (57 from 56) dragged Australia back into the match after they had crawled to 4-114 after 30 overs.

When New Zealand thumped Australia by nine wickets in a warm-up game last month, it was the star trio of Sophie Devine, Amelia Kerr and Suzie Bates that dispatched the bowling attack to all corners.

But on Sunday, all three were removed in the space of 7.3 overs.

Perry (1-18) knocked over Devine to send the captain on her way for six, before Beth Mooney's one-handed screamer at slip off the bowling of Brown accounted for Kerr (1).

Brown then combined with fellow South Australian McGrath to have their Adelaide Strikers teammate Bates caught on 16; the former White Ferns captain smashing her bat on the ground in frustration as she departed.

A short time later, Maddy Green (3) and Frankie Mackay (1) went cheaply to leave the hosts reeling at 5-35.

Katey Martin (19) survived one overturned lbw decision in her 100th ODI but not a second when she was trapped on the pads by Amanda-Jade Wellington.

Wellington had a second with her next delivery, removing Hayley Jensen, and Megan Schutt – who curiously was Lanning's fifth option with the ball after opening the bowling in her previous 39 one-dayers – grabbed her first to leave the White Ferns 8-86.

A 35-run stand from Amy Satterthwaite (44) and Lea Tahuhu (23) briefly delayed Australia's push for victory, but fittingly it was off-spinner Gardner (2-15) who dismissed first the New Zealand vice-captain then the fiery quick to seal the emphatic victory.

Earlier, Gardner's whirlwind innings capped off a remarkable fightback from the deep Australian batting line-up, who had been under immense pressure from the White Ferns for much of the innings after being sent in by Devine in blustery conditions on a greenish Basin deck.

Pace bowlers Jess Kerr and Rowe were on top of Alyssa Healy and Rachael Haynes early, and the change to Mackay's off-spin then reaped the rewards when a frustrated Healy holed out to deep mid-wicket for 15 off 31 deliveries.

Meg Lanning made a watchful start, and Devine's decision to pack the point region paid off when she slashed hard at a wide delivery from Jensen, edging behind to Martin for five off 15.

Haynes was bowled in the following over by Tahuhu (3-56), who was charging in from around the wicket with the breeze at her back, and the wicket left Australia in trouble at 3-56 in the 16th over.

Mooney joined Perry to put on 57 for the fourth wicket, before the left-hander chopped on leg-spinner Kerr to depart for 30.

With just 114 on the board after 30 overs, Australia were facing an uphill battle but McGrath joined Perry to put their side back on track.

Their 100-run partnership came off just 94 deliveries, with both allrounders raising the bat for half-centuries, before their stand was eventually broken when Green took a remarkable diving catch on the boundary to remove Perry.

But her departure in the 45th over only welcomed Gardner to the crease.

Australia piled on 105 runs from the last 10 overs, with 55 of those coming from the last five – despite regular wickets falling – thanks to Gardner's fireworks.

Australia, who made three changes for the trans-Tasman clash including dropping the world's top-ranked ODI bowler Jess Jonassen, remain undefeated after three matches and will next meet West Indies at the Basin on Tuesday.

New Zealand fly to Hamilton to play South Africa on Thursday.

ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2022

Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Grace Harris, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Amanda-Jade Wellington. Travelling reserves: Heather Graham, Georgia Redmayne

Australia's World Cup 2022 fixtures

Mar 5: Beat England by 12 runs

Mar 8: Beat Pakistan by seven wickets

Mar 13: Beat New Zealand by 141 runs

Mar 15: v West Indies, Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT

Mar 19: v India, Eden Park, Auckland, 12pm AEDT

Mar 22: v South Africa, Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT

Mar 25: v Bangladesh, Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL WORLD CUP SCHEDULE

Semi-finals

Mar 30: Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT

Mar 31: Hagley Park Christchurch, 12pm AEDT

Final

Apr 3: Hagley Park Christchurch, 11am AEDT

All matches to be broadcast in Australia on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports