AUS-W vs NZ-W

Twice in two matches now, we have witnessed teams coming back to post a big score after being 6-down fairly early. That not only shows us how important depth of resources is, but also the fact that this format allows you the time to forge a bounce back.

The defending champions will now head to Colombo, where they play Pakistan and Sri Lanka next week before their much anticipated clash against India at Vizag. Meanwhile, New Zealand have a four-day break before their match against South Africa at this venue. But before all of that, tomorrow the attention will shift to Colombo, where Pakistan lock horns with Bangladesh.

Do join us for that. For now, this is the duo of Darpan and Pradeep bidding adieu. Sayonara!

Alyssa Healy [Australia captain]: "Oddly it did seem a bit tighter. When Sophie (Devine) is batting, you never feel totally comfortable. But credit to the girls that they pulled it off in the end. We still made over 300. It does not take much for one of our middle order batters to make a hundred. That is cool. (On Kim Garth) She's just continuing to mature as a cricketer, and it's really impressive to watch. (On Ashleigh Garnder) Really proud of Ash today, had a great day. (On Sophie Molineux) Her first full game back in over 12 months. Hopefully went through unscathed and she can play a big part in the tournament. Might be different conditions in Colombo, will have to adapt on the fly. Enjoyed playing here, fans are really close and it is a really good cricket wicket."

Sophie Devine [New Zealand captain]: "It's probably bitter sweet feeling, threw it in the end. The fight we showed was brilliant, couple of years back we would've got skittled out for 100 from the start we got. Result didn't go our way, but this effort makes me proud. Against the best bowling attack, never scored a hundred against Australia, this is up there, but wanted to be on the right side of the result. Long way to go in this World Cup. Just shows the mindset that stay in present, we know what they can do and hold to our nerves. Melie was outstanding after powerplay. Lea was brilliant, all the players adapted to the situation. We leaked a lot of runs at the backend, but still in the grasp to chase it. Massive signs, brought her into the team to take big wickets. Helps being a left armer, she knows what she wants to do. Really excited where she could take the game. Plenty of runs on offer in this tournament, just need to hold the nerve for a longer. This group will fight, they've shown that today. It ebbed and flown on both the sides, it's a great cricket wicket."

Ashleigh Gardner is the Player of the Match! Here's what she has to say: "It was really special, when I came in, wanted to stay in the middle and wanted to score as many as I can. Venue is quite small, once I got in I capitalised. Sophie batted brilliantly for them. Just make sure we get plenty of runs on the board in this World Cup. I'm just rying to keep my game as simple as possible, run as hard as possible and hit the boundaries in the middle of all those. Partnerships are crucial. We bat genuinely all the way down, that freedom allows us to play freely and allows us to change the game in the pressure situations."

9:55 PM IST: Australia win by 89 runs.

Ashleigh Gardner 115 (83) | Sophie Molineux 3/25 (8.1)
Sophie Devine 111 (112) | Lea Tahuhu 3/42 (8)

The defending champions have hit the ground running. With it, the over-arching theme of this tournament has been set — "Who can stop the mighty Aussies?" will be the question going forward (if it wasn't already.)

Also, with this Australia have now registered their 16th successive win over New Zealand in WODIs and it is another comprehensive one. Though, it will be fair to say that Devine and co. did push the them earlier in the day. After electing to bat first, just 22 overs into the innings, the Aussies found half their side back in the hut. Yet, that did not deter their intent to score. They continued to get runs at a-run-a-ball and eventually had a flamboyant flourish towards the end that enabled them to get to 326.

Ashleigh Gardner was the showstopper. She seemed purposeful from the offset and began to look imperious after a point. Yet, what stood out was her shot selection. Out of the bazillion big shots off her bat, hardly any seemed agriculturally brash. Most were clean hits and seemed like steadfast extensions of proper cricketing shots. She finished with an 83-ball-115. Phoebe Litchfield, with a sparkling 31-ball-45 was the second highest scorer, while Kim Garth made a significant contribution of 37 lower down the order. For the White Ferns, Lea Tahuhu and Jess Kerr picked up 3 wickets each.

New Zealand's start with the bat was as rough as it could get. They lost both their openers without a run on the board and then took 24.3 overs to get their total into triple figures. Although, the skipper's pugnacious century ensured that the flame of hope still kept burning. It gleamed at its brightest when she got the company of Izzy Gaze at the other end. The wicket-keeper batter's sprightly 18-ball-28 must have got the fans interested, but in the end, it was always too steep a climb.

Tight spells from Annabel Sutherland and Sophie Molinuex, some enticingly tossed up balls from Alana King and a couple of runouts were the highlights of Australia's efforts with the ball.

43.2 Sophie Molineux to Bree Illing, OUT! BIG APPEALS FOR CAUGHT BEHIND, GIVEN! It's all over! But, Illing reviews. Turned sharply into leg-stump from a length. Illing swings to the hills and might've feather it to Healy.

UltraEdge is here, shows spike as the ball passes the inside edge of the bat. What a thumping win for the defending champions to start off their campaign! Once again showing, they are the team to beat in a World Cup!

43.1 Sophie Molineux to Lea Tahuhu, full and angled into the stumps. Tahuhu clears her front foot to hoick, but mistimed it to long-on for one.

42.5 Annabel Sutherland to Bree Illing, OH MY! Almost a hat-trick for Sutherland, misses out by a whisker. Back of a length, angling into fourth stump, Illing pokes and gets beaten.

42.4 Annabel Sutherland to Eden Carson, OUT! LOUD SHOUTS FOR LBW, FINGER GOES UP! Third wicket in the over, Sutherland ripping through White Ferns lower order here. But, Carson wants to have a look, takes the review. Back of a length, tailed into middle and leg. Carson hangs back to defend and misses, pings on the pad.

UltraEdge confirms no bat involved. It's THREE REDS on ball tracker and Carson goes back for a golden duck. Can Sutherland wrap it up with a hat-trick?