Lanning, Cameron star as Australia beats New Zealand

Australia reserved its best batting performance when it mattered the most to brush aside New Zealand by seven wickets in a Group B fixture of the 2013 ICC Women's World Cup at the DRIEMS ground on Tuesday (February 5).

Both teams had already cemented a place in the next round by virtue of crushing wins over South Africa and Pakistan, but given that the winner carries two vital points into the Super Six stage, it was by no means a dead rubber. At the halfway mark, New Zealand would have fancied its chances of defending 227, achieved largely on the back of Suzie Bates's century, considering Australia’s patchy batting so far in the tournament.

In the end, it was the 182-run stand in just 171 balls for the second wicket between Meg Lanning, who rose to the occasion to score a sublime 112, her fourth One-Day International century, and Jess Cameron (82), that made the difference.

But it wasn't a smooth sail to begin with for Australia, as the in-form Rachael Haynes (5) was dismissed in the fifth over by Lea Tahuhu. The next six overs saw slow progress, but Lanning, not the one to get bogged down, suddenly exploded, smashing Nicola Brown, the right-arm medium pacer, for three consecutive boundaries through the offside in the 12th over to kickstart the counter-attack that caught New Zealand completely off guard. The dam had burst.

Lanning struck 17 boundaries and one six, while Cameron, initially circumspect, came into her own once Australia was well ahead of the asking rate. Cameron, the latest recipient of the Belinda Clark Medal, proved her worth by striking an enterprising 82 off 87 before lapse in concentration saw her nick one to the wicketkeeper. That proved only a minor hiccup as Australia eventually romped home with 11.4 overs to spare.

Earlier, Bates led New Zealand's fightback with a magnificent 102 to guide the team to 227 for six in 50 overs after Megan Schutt's triple strike reduced it to 39 for four in the 12th over.

Bates, coming into the game on the back of fifties in her previous two outings in the tournament, went one up this time to bring up a magnificent fourth ODI ton. Showing immaculate composure and resolve to stay clear of any risk, she batted New Zealand out of troubled waters by stitching together a 103-run stand for the fifth wicket with Katie Perkins (41). It took an outstanding throw from deep midwicket by Schutt to bring an end to Perkins’s knock in the 38th over.

To New Zealand’s credit, it cashed in on some loose Australian bowling in the middle overs, especially from Erin Osborne, the offspinner, who was slightly off the boil, conceding 31 off her five overs. That set the tone for the final onslaught, which saw New Zealand score 87 off the last 13 overs, Brown chipping in with an unbeaten 39 off 42 balls.

Australia, by virtue of three wins in three matches, carries forward points from its wins over New Zealand and South Africa, the other two qualifiers from the group, while New Zealand will have to be content with the points from its win over South Africa, who face an uphill task in the Super Sixes.