Sthalekar stars in big Australia win

Updated: Mar 1, 2019, 08:40 pm

Australia Women 5 for 128 (Sthalekar 52, Mackay 2-15) beat New Zealand Women 69 (Sthalekar 3-16) by 59 runs
Scorecard

Lisa Sthalekar plays through the on side during her half-century
Lisa Sthalekar plays through the on side during her half-century
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Lisa Sthalekar led a comprehensive Australian routing of New Zealand in the second Twenty20 at North Sydney Oval, where the Australians took a 2-0 lead. Sthalekar scored the only half-century of the match as Australia posted 5 for 128 having been sent in, and she then claimed 3 for 16 in New Zealand's chase.New Zealand were in trouble from the start of their innings, losing a wicket in each of the first three overs. Katie Perkins (19) was the only player to reach double figures as they crashed to be all out for 69, their lowest total in a Twenty20 international and the fourth-lowest all-out total by any side.Julie Hunter proved a nightmare for the New Zealand batsmen as she collected 2 for 4 from her three overs, while Sarah Coyte and Erin Osborn each colletced two wickets. But the standout performer was Sthalekar, who opened the bowling with her finger-spin, having already done the damage with the bat.Batting at No.5, Sthalekar came in with the score at 3 for 52 at almost precisely the halfway point of the innings, and her 52 from 32 balls helped the Australians push up to a competitive total. Meg Lanning (27) and Alex Blackwell (20) also contributed for Australia.