Australia Women edge New Zealand by two wickets in first T20I

Australia Women beat New Zealand Women by two wickets in the first T20I at North Sydney Oval on 18 October 2026. Chasing 163, Australia finished on 165 for eight in 18.5 overs, with seven balls remaining, to take a 1–0 lead in the three-match Rose Bowl T20I series. The official match report described a close finish after Australia lost regular wickets late in the chase. This article is a dated report of the completed 18 October fixture, not a new match or a live update on 20 October. [1] [2] [3]

New Zealand posted 162 for two after Sophie Molineux chose to field on her return as Australia’s captain. Georgia Plimmer made an unbeaten 85 from 68 balls, a career-best T20I score noted by Cricket Australia, while Maddy Green added an unbeaten 56 from 37. The pair rebuilt the innings after New Zealand lost Flora Devonshire and Melie Kerr, then accelerated through the closing overs. The official reports agree on the total and the unbeaten partnership, while differing in the partnership count, so that disputed figure is not repeated here. [1] [3]

Australia moved to 57 for one in the Powerplay and 102 for two after 10 overs, with Beth Mooney scoring 38 from 25 balls and Ellyse Perry hitting 52 from 30. Perry reached an equal-fastest T20I half-century from 27 deliveries, but fell two balls later. Australia then lost six wickets for 57 runs to slip to 145 for seven, with Jess Kerr taking three wickets for 25 and Ashleigh Gardner contributing 23 from 17. [1] [3]

Tahlia McGrath and Kim Garth completed the chase after Molineux struck 11 from five balls before Rosemary Mair bowled her with four runs still required. Garth then found the boundary to settle the match. Cricket Australia’s 18 October report listed the second and third T20Is for 20 and 22 October, also at North Sydney Oval; those fixtures are separate from the result covered here. [1] [2]