Hey there, cricket fans! Imagine this: the sun beating down on a packed stadium, the crowd roaring like a wave crashing on the shore, and two powerhouse teams—Australia Women’s National Cricket Team vs New Zealand Women’s National Cricket Team Match Scorecard—locked in a battle that could go either way. That’s exactly what we saw on October 1, 2025, at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore, India. It was the second match of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, and oh boy, did it deliver drama, skill, and pure heart.
If you’re new to women’s cricket or just love a good underdog story, pull up a chair. I’m going to walk you through this epic showdown like we’re chatting over a cuppa. We’ll cover the buildup, the nail-biting action, the standout heroes, and of course, a full, easy-to-read scorecard. By the end, you’ll feel like you were right there in the stands, cheering on your favorites. And hey, whether you’re 10 or 100, cricket’s magic is all about that shared thrill—runs, wickets, and those unforgettable moments that stick with you forever.
The Rivalry That Spans Oceans: Australia vs New Zealand in Women’s Cricket
Let’s start with a bit of backstory, because no great match happens in a vacuum. Australia and New Zealand aren’t just neighbors across the Tasman Sea; they’re fierce rivals who’ve been trading blows on the cricket field since the sport’s early days. The Southern Stars, as they’re affectionately known, are the undisputed queens of women’s cricket. They’ve won six out of the last seven World Cups—that’s right, six! Led by the fiery Alyssa Healy, this team is a blend of explosive batting, crafty spin, and relentless pace that makes opponents sweat.
On the flip side, the White Ferns from New Zealand bring that Kiwi grit you can’t teach. They’ve got fewer World Cup titles (just one, back in 2000), but what they lack in silverware, they make up for in fight. Captain Sophie Devine is a legend—a hard-hitting all-rounder who’s carried her team through thick and thin. These two sides have clashed over 150 times in ODIs, with Australia holding a commanding edge. But don’t let the stats fool you; every match feels like a fresh chapter in their Trans-Tasman tale.
Heading into this World Cup game, Australia were the defending champs from 2022, unbeaten in their last 15 ODIs against New Zealand. The White Ferns, though, had pulled off a T20 upset just months earlier, proving they could sting. With the tournament co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, Indore’s flat pitch promised runs aplenty—perfect for a high-scoring thriller. Toss won by Australia, who chose to bat first. Game on!
The Toss and Early Sparks: Australia’s Rocky Road to 326
Cricket’s a funny game, isn’t it? You can plan all you want, but one bad ball changes everything. Australia opened with Phoebe Litchfield and Alyssa Healy, and for the first 10 overs, it looked like a dream start. Litchfield, that young gun with the silky cover drives, and Healy, smashing boundaries like she was born with a bat in hand, raced to 81 for 1 in the powerplay. The crowd was buzzing—Indore loves its cricket, and this was turning into a run fest.
But here’s where the plot thickened. New Zealand’s Amelia Kerr, that leggie with a bag of tricks, struck gold in the ninth over. A perfect googly bamboozled Litchfield, bowling her for a promising 42. That wicket opened the floodgates. Kerr and Lea Tahuhu piled on pressure, and suddenly Australia were wobbling at 128 for 5. Ellyse Perry, the evergreen star, chipped one to mid-wicket; Tahlia McGrath fell to a sharp catch; Beth Mooney couldn’t rotate strike. It felt like New Zealand had snatched the momentum, squeezing just 20 runs in seven overs. Whispers in the commentary box: “Is this the upset we’ve been waiting for?”
Enter Ashleigh Gardner. Oh man, if this match had a hero’s theme music, it’d play right here. The all-rounder, known more for her off-spin wizardry, walked in with ice in her veins. Partnered first with Annabel Sutherland and then Sophie Molineux, Gardner rebuilt brick by brick. She played herself in with nudges and glances, then unleashed—16 fours and a massive six, farming the strike like a pro. By the 40th over, partnerships were flowering: 50 with Sutherland, 70 with Molineux. Gardner reached her century off 78 balls, fist-pumping like she’d won the whole tournament.
Australia finished at 326 for 9 in 50 overs—a total that demanded a record chase (the highest in women’s ODIs is 302). Gardner’s 115 off 83 was the backbone, but shoutouts to Healy’s quick 30 and Molineux’s gritty 45. New Zealand’s bowlers toiled—Kerr grabbed 3 for 52, Tahuhu 2 for 60—but they couldn’t stem the tide. As the innings ended, you could sense the shift: Australia had clawed back, and now it was the bowlers’ turn to shine.
New Zealand’s Valiant Chase: Devine’s Fireworks Fall Short
Chasing 327? In a World Cup? That’s the stuff of legends—or nightmares. New Zealand opened with Georgia Plimmer and Suzie Bates, two veterans hungry for a statement. But talk about a horror start! In the first over, Kim Garth, Australia’s Irish import, induced a mix-up—Plimmer run out for a golden duck without facing a ball. Then, in the second over, Annabel Sutherland jagged one back to bowl Bates for another duck. Zero for 2 after 1.3 overs. The White Ferns’ dugout looked shell-shocked; the Australian fielders were lions, circling with energy.
Enter Sophie Devine. If Gardner was Australia’s savior, Devine was New Zealand’s warrior queen. She steadied the ship with Amelia Kerr, adding 75 for the third wicket. Devine walked down to the spinners, lofting Gardner for the first six of the innings—straight into the sightscreen! Kerr chipped in with boundaries, but Alana King’s leg-spin snared her for 32. Brooke Halliday joined Devine, and for a glorious spell, hope flickered. Halliday smashed a six off King, and Devine motored to her half-century off 69 balls. At 127 for 3 after 30 overs, the required rate was under control—about 7 an over.
But Australia’s spinners—Gardner, Molineux, and King—turned the screw. The middle overs were a grind; dot balls piled up, and the asking rate crept to 10. Halliday fell for 28, caught off King. Maddy Green added 22, but Sutherland broke through. Then, the heartbreak: Devine, on 99, charged Brown and edged to slip—111 off 112, her ninth ODI ton. It was a lone hand, pushing New Zealand to 235 before folding in 43.2 overs. Izzy Gaze chipped 30, but the lower order crumbled—three wickets in four balls, courtesy of Molineux (3/25) and Sutherland (3/26).
Australia won by 89 runs, their 16th straight ODI win over New Zealand. It wasn’t pretty for the Ferns, but Devine’s knock was pure class—a reminder that even in defeat, cricket produces magic.
Key Performers: Stars Who Lit Up Indore
Let’s give credit where it’s due—these women didn’t just play; they performed. Ashleigh Gardner was the undisputed Player of the Match, her 115 rescuing Australia from the brink. “It was special,” she said post-match, grinning ear-to-ear. “I stuck to my plans and backed my strengths.” Her bowling added a wicket too—versatile stuff.
Sophie Devine? What a fighter. Her 111 was bittersweet, as she admitted: “I’d throw it all away for a team win, but I’m proud of our fight.” Alyssa Healy, cool as ever, praised her side’s resilience: “We wobbled, but partnerships got us over 300—that’s the bare minimum on this pitch.”
Bowling heroes: Sutherland’s three-fer with the new ball was electric, and Molineux’s spin strangled the chase. For New Zealand, Kerr’s guile troubled Australia early, but the pacers leaked runs. This match showed why women’s cricket is booming—depth, drama, and dazzling skills.
Full Match Australia Women’s National Cricket Team vs New Zealand Women’s National Cricket Team Match Scorecard: At a Glance
Now, for the meaty bit—the scorecard. I’ve laid it out in simple tables so you can scan it quick or dive deep. No jargon overload; just the facts, with fall-of-wickets to track the drama.
Australia Women Innings (50 Overs Maximum)
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoebe Litchfield | b Kerr | 42 | 45 | 7 | 0 | 93.33 |
| Alyssa Healy (c) | c Bates b Tahuhu | 30 | 25 | 5 | 0 | 120.00 |
| Ellyse Perry | c Devine b Kerr | 18 | 22 | 2 | 0 | 81.82 |
| Tahlia McGrath | lbw b Tahuhu | 12 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 66.67 |
| Beth Mooney | c Green b Kerr | 8 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 53.33 |
| Ashleigh Gardner | not out | 115 | 83 | 16 | 1 | 138.55 |
| Annabel Sutherland | c Bates b Devine | 25 | 28 | 2 | 0 | 89.29 |
| Sophie Molineux | c Halliday b Tahuhu | 45 | 42 | 5 | 1 | 107.14 |
| Alana King | run out (Kerr) | 10 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 83.33 |
| Darcie Brown | b Devine | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 83.33 |
| Kim Garth | not out | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Extras | (lb 5, w 9, nb 0) | 14 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | (9 wkts, 50 ov) | 326 | – | – | – | – |
Fall of Wickets: 1-81 (Healy, 9.4 ov), 2-95 (Litchfield, 15.1 ov), 3-108 (Perry, 20.2 ov), 4-115 (McGrath, 24.3 ov), 5-128 (Mooney, 27.5 ov), 6-178 (Sutherland, 35.4 ov), 7-248 (Molineux, 43.2 ov), 8-300 (King, 47.1 ov), 9-315 (Brown, 48.3 ov)
Bowling for New Zealand Women:
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lea Tahuhu | 10 | 0 | 60 | 3 | 6.00 |
| Amelia Kerr | 10 | 0 | 52 | 3 | 5.20 |
| Sophie Devine | 8 | 0 | 45 | 2 | 5.63 |
| Jess Kerr | 10 | 0 | 68 | 0 | 6.80 |
| Eden Carson | 8 | 0 | 58 | 0 | 7.25 |
| Brooke Halliday | 4 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 8.75 |
New Zealand Women Innings (Target: 327)
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia Plimmer | run out (Garth/Healy) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| Suzie Bates | b Sutherland | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Sophie Devine (c) | c Perry b Brown | 111 | 112 | 12 | 1 | 99.11 |
| Amelia Kerr | c McGrath b King | 32 | 48 | 3 | 0 | 66.67 |
| Brooke Halliday | c Mooney b King | 28 | 35 | 2 | 1 | 80.00 |
| Maddy Green | c Healy b Sutherland | 22 | 24 | 2 | 0 | 91.67 |
| Izzy Gaze | run out (Gardner) | 30 | 25 | 3 | 0 | 120.00 |
| Jess Kerr | lbw b Molineux | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Eden Carson | c Gardner b Sutherland | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Bella Illing | b Molineux | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 40.00 |
| Lea Tahuhu | not out | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Extras | (b 4, lb 2, w 4, nb 0) | 10 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | (All Out, 43.2 ov) | 237 | – | – | – | – |
Fall of Wickets: 1-0 (Plimmer, 0.6 ov), 2-0 (Bates, 1.3 ov), 3-75 (Kerr, 19.1 ov), 4-127 (Halliday, 29.6 ov), 5-164 (Green, 34.5 ov), 6-218 (Gaze, 40.4 ov), 7-235 (Devine, 42.1 ov), 8-236 (J Kerr, 42.3 ov), 9-236 (Carson, 42.4 ov), 10-237 (Illing, 43.2 ov)
Bowling for Australia Women:
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kim Garth | 7 | 1 | 28 | 1 | 4.00 |
| Annabel Sutherland | 8.2 | 0 | 26 | 3 | 3.10 |
| Darcie Brown | 8 | 0 | 45 | 1 | 5.63 |
| Ashleigh Gardner | 9 | 0 | 52 | 1 | 5.78 |
| Sophie Molineux | 7 | 0 | 25 | 3 | 3.57 |
| Alana King | 4 | 0 | 52 | 2 | 13.00 |
Post-Match Buzz: What It Means for the Tournament
As the players shook hands under the floodlights, the air was thick with respect. Australia kicked off their title defense with a bang, but Healy was honest: “We weren’t precise in the middle—we’ll reflect on that.” Their bowlers, though, were spot-on, restricting a dangerous lineup. For New Zealand, it’s back to the drawing board. Devine urged her team to “hiss and roar” in the next game, and with talents like Kerr and Gaze emerging, they could still surprise.
This win extends Australia’s streak, but the World Cup’s a marathon. Next up for the Aussies: India in a blockbuster. New Zealand face England, a chance to rebuild. And let’s not forget the bigger picture—women’s cricket is exploding, with records tumbling and crowds growing. Matches like this inspire the next generation, showing girls (and boys!) that with grit and skill, anything’s possible.
Wrapping Up: Why This Match Will Linger
What a ride, right? From Australia’s collapse and comeback to Devine’s defiant ton, this was cricket at its raw, joyful best. Gardner’s heroics edged out Devine’s fire, but both etched their names in World Cup lore. If you’re just dipping your toes into the game, remember: it’s not about the scoreline; it’s the stories—the leaps, the roars, the quiet nods of sportsmanship.
