The finalists from the 2000 Women’s Cricket World Cup, Australia and New Zealand, meet at the LC de Villiers Oval, University of Pretoria, in the second round of the 2005 World Cup on Thursday March 24. Australia and New Zealand have met 74 times in one day internationals with Australia holding a 53-20 advantage (they have also had one no result). Australia has won their past 5 encounters including the 3-match Rose Bowl played in Perth earlier this month. New Zealand’s last win was at Bankstown Oval in February 2004 win they won by 20 runs defending only 6/151.
In World Cups, Australia and New Zealand have met 11 times with Australia holding an 9-2 advantage. However the last time they met in the World Cup was the Final in 2000 when New Zealand prevailed by 4 runs. Earlier in that tournament, Australia had won by 6 wickets with 15 balls to spare.
In the current squads, each side has three of the world’s current top 10 run scorers – Australia: Belinda Clark 4597 (1st), Karen Rolton 3050 (3rd) and Lisa Keightley 2105 (7th); New Zealand: Emily Drumm 2528 (4th), Rebecca Rolls 1646 (8th) and Haidee Tiffen 1614 (10th) Of the leading wicket-takers, each side has only one of the top 10 – Australia: Cathryn Fitzpatrick 139 (1st); New Zealand: Rachel Pullar 64 (=9th).
Belinda Clark (2268 runs, 2 centuries) and Cathryn Fitzpatrick (70 wickets, 1 5 wicket innings) are Australia’s leading batter and bowler respectively against New Zealand.
Upcoming Australian milestones:
Melanie Jones needs just 54 runs to become the 7th Australian to reach 1000 ODI runs while Julie Hayes needs just 2 wickets to become the 8th Australian to reach 50 ODI wickets.