Dominant Aussies cruise to clean sweep

Australia have wrapped up an ODI series sweep against New Zealand with a dominant seven-wicket victory in the third and final one-dayer at Melbourne’s Junction Oval.

A superb display with the ball – and two spectacular pieces of fielding – set the scene for the hosts, with off-spinner Ashleigh Gardner (3-49) and leg-spinner Georgia Wareham (2-36) leading the way as the White Ferns were restricted to 8-231 despite a fighting half-century from Sophie Devine.

Then, a clinical chase saw Australia home in 47.5 overs, thanks to a half-century to Ellyse Perry and solid contributions from skipper Meg Lanning (48), Rachael Haynes (46) and Alyssa Healy (46).

It completed a 3-0 series win for the hosts, as they continued their 19-year hold on the Rose Bowl trophy.

It also continued Perry's remarkable form with the bat this summer - she finished with a batting average of 167 for the series, while her average across all formats since the beginning of the Rebel WBBL sits at 107.

Winning a third consecutive toss, New Zealand skipper Amy Satterthwaite opted to bat for the first time this series and opening pair Suzie Bates and Devine laid a solid foundation, scoring 51 runs from the first 10 overs.

But a switch to spin managed to tie down the star White Ferns pair and the mounting pressure paid off when Bates was caught by Perry at mid-wicket, departing for 35 (48) and handing leg-spinner Georgia Wareham her first of the day at the end of the 17th over.

The Victorian then found herself on a hat-trick when she had Lauren Down – fresh off a century against the Governor-General’s XI – brilliantly caught by a leaping Perry with her next delivery, out for one.

There was no hat-trick for Wareham as Katey Martin – promoted ahead of captain Satterthwaite – joined Devine, but the wicketkeeper managed just 13 runs from the 25 balls sh

A 39-run stand between Devine and her captain Satterthwaite steadied proceeding for the White Ferns, with the usually explosive Devine playing a more measured hand to bring up her half-century from 83 deliveries.

She looked to escalate when she struck the first six of the day straight back over Gardner’s head, but the off-spinner had the last laugh the following over when she trapped the allrounder lbw for 58 off 90.

While Devine was unusually sluggish, Satterthwaite had no such problems as she cruised along at a run a ball, appearing largely untroubled by the Australian attack.

It took a stunning piece of fielding from Jess Jonassen to deny the New Zealand skipper a half-century, with her direct-hit run out sending her on her way for 49 (48).

Hayley Jensen (9 off 11) and Leigh Kasperek (12 off 15) departed cheaply, but a fighting 41 (53) from Katie Perkins lifted the White Ferns to 8-231.

In the chase, Australia were clinical.

Alyssa Healy and Rachael Haynes produced their best opening partnership of the series, cruising to 0-84 in the 17th over before Haynes fell just shy of a half-century, caught on the boundary by Bates for 46 (58).

Healy suffered an almost identical fate, looking in excellent touch before chipping a simple catch to Satterthwaite, also out for 46 (52).

Skipper Lanning and Perry picked up where they left off, sharing in a 62-run partnership as the Australian skipper produced her best knock of the series to date.

But Lanning too fell agonisingly short of a fifty, caught by Satterthwaite off Kasperek on 48 (59).

While the runs didn’t flow easily for the hosts, victory never seemed in doubt as Perry reached her half-century in 73 deliveries, finishing unbeaten on 54 (75) as she steered Australia home in the 48th over alongside Beth Mooney (35no off 43).

Australia’s players will now enjoy a break, with their next engagement the multi-format Ashes in the UK in July.