Cameron gets Australia off to winning start

Australia Women 6 for 148 (Cameron 59, Ruck 2-19) beat New Zealand Women 7 for 145 (Bates 33, Perry 2-27, Hunter 2-27) by 4 wickets
Scorecard

Debutant Katie Perkins drives through the off side
Debutant Katie Perkins drives through the off side
Getty Images

Australia scraped home with one ball remaining after Jess Cameron's half-century set up their successful chase in the first Twenty20 at North Sydney Oval. New Zealand made 7 for 145 having been sent in to bat in the first match of their tour and it was a tense finish as the Australians needed six off the final over.Amy Satterthwaite was handed the task of bowling the last over, with Sarah Coyte and the debutant Jess Jonassen at the crease. It came down to two from the final two balls and Coyte managed to drive a boundary through extra cover to ensure the hard work of Cameron, who was Player of the Match for her 59, was not wasted.Cameron and Alex Blackwell (35) guided Australia's chase until they departed from consecutive balls, leaving New Zealand with a sniff. Ultimately, the visitors were a few runs short and needed someone to have posted a half-century to lead the way like Cameron did for Australia.Frances Mackay (31) and Suzie Bates (33) put on 63 for the opening wicket but they were the best scores, along with the 31 made by the debutant Katie Perkins. The series continues with the second T20 on Saturday.