Summary

  • Australia ruthless with the ball after Schutt's explosive first over removes both NZ openers

  • Gardner takes 5-12 and Schutt 2-8

  • Aggressive Australia pile up 173-9

  • Healy top-scores with 55 off 38 balls

  • Lanning hits 41 before being bowled by Kerr googly

  • Perry blazes 40 off 22 balls, including two sixes

Live Reporting

Tom Mallows and Matthew Henry

  1. Aus 4-1

    But you get Beth Mooney out and in walks Meg Lanning.

    Good luck...

  2. We've already had one stunning catch today. This was up there.

  3. Henry Moeran
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    TahuhuGetty Images

    Eden Carson has taken a screamer!

  4. wicket

    WICKET

    Mooney c Carson b Tahuhu 0 (Aus 2-1)

    A brilliant diving catch! Eden Carson has taken a stunning, leaping like a New Zealand salmon at backward point.

    Beth Mooney is out for a duck and the White Ferns have the ideal start.

  5. Aus 0-0

    FansGetty Images

    It must be just a little scary seeing Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney walking out to bat.

    What a pair.

    New Zealand are going to start with the pace of Lea Tahuhu.

  6. Georgia Elwiss
    England all-rounder on BBC Test Match Special

    PaarlGetty Images

    This is set to be a cracker of game for Australia against a very good New Zealand side, though you would expect both teams to progress to the knockout stages after that defeat for South Africa on Friday.

  7. The TV cameras have just picked out one of the better homemade signs I've seen.

    It reads 'AuSLAYlia'.

    It looks to have cracked the Aussie players up.

  8. The anthems, two good 'uns, are done.

    Let's get going. Should be a cracker.

  9. A banner image showing Alex Hartley has picked Grace Harris and Darcie Brown as her two Australia players to watch at the Women's T20 World Cup 2023. Hartley has predicted Australia will win the tournament, as has BBC Sport's cricket writer Ffion WynneBBC Sport

    Here are our tournament predictions for these two teams, plus some players to watch out for.

    Read more here

    A banner image showing Alex Hartley has picked Sophie Devine and Molly Penfold as her two New Zealand players to watch at the Women's T20 World Cup 2023. Hartley has predicted New Zealand will reach the semi-finals, while BBC Sport cricket writer Ffion Wynne thinks they will be eliminated in the group stagesBBC Sport

  10. Meg LanningGetty Images

    I gave Australia the big build-up but things aren't quite as serene as they have been.

    Since winning their last World Cup trophy they have lost their coach Matthew Mott to the England men's side while their skipper Meg Lanning took a break from the sport.

    Lanning is back for this tournament looking to lead Australia to their sixth T20 World Cup.

    This New Zealand side has a lot of familiar names but some young talent to keep an eye on too.

  11. The teams

    New Zealand XI: Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates, Bernadine Bezuidenhout, Amelia Kerr, Maddy Green, Hannah Rowe, Hayley Jensen, Lea Tahuhu, Jess Kerr, Eden Carson, Fran Jonas.

    Australia XI: Alyssa Healy (wk), Beth Mooney, Meg Lanning (capt.), Ashleigh Gardner, Elysse Perry, Tahlia McGrath, Grace Harris, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Megan Schutt, Georgia Wareham.

  12. New Zealand win toss and bowl
    Breaking

    New Zealand skipper Sophie Devine has won the toss and has decided to bowl.

    That means the White Ferns will be chasing on this used pitch, the same one England just won on, which is a little surprising to me at least.

  13. Australia have won five of the past six Women's T20 World Cups. They are also the reigning Commonwealth champions over this format and won last year's 50-over World Cup.

    For five years or so they have been one of the most dominant sides in this and any other sport.

    Today they play New Zealand in their tournament opener in South Africa. It can only go one way, right...?

  14. Australia celebrate T20 World Cup winGetty Images

    Will it be Australia celebrating again in a few weeks time?