Australia beats New Zealand by 75 runs in Wellington to wrap up ...
Annabel Sutherland's phenomenal form has continued with valuable contributions with bat and ball in Australia's 75-run victory in the final ODI in New Zealand.
Coming off back-to-back centuries — 110 against India in Perth followed by 105 not out in Wellington on Saturday — Sutherland scored 42 off 43 as Australia was bowled out for 290.
New Zealand's chase started solidly until Sutherland came on as first-change bowler and bowled rookie opener Bella James for 24 in her second over.
Veteran Suzie Bates and Amelia Kerr put on 66 for the second wicket until Sutherland returned to the attack and had Bates caught in the deep by Ellyse Perry for 53.
Kerr was run out in farcical circumstances by teammate Sophie Devine in the next over, and the chase never recovered.
Every batter in the White Ferns' top six score at least 22, but no-one was able to lead the chase, with the final six wickets coming in eight overs for just 26 runs as they were all out for 215.
Ashleigh Gardner scored 74 off 62 balls. (Getty Images: Hagen Hopkins)
Earlier, Ash Gardner led the scoring for Australia with 74 off 62, supported by Phoebe Litchfield's 50 and Sutherland.
Sutherland was named player of the match and player of the series after the first game was washed out entirely and Australia won the second, rain-shortened match via Duckworth-Lewis.
The Australian women's team's next match comes on January 12 with the first ODI of the Women's Ashes at North Sydney Oval.
Look back at all the action in our live blog.
Key Events
Australia should feel 'pretty pumped' says skipper
6 minutes agoMon 23 Dec 2024 at 5:07am
Second innings scorecard
21 minutes agoMon 23 Dec 2024 at 4:53am
Australia wins by 75 runs and claims the Rose Bowl series 2-0
25 minutes agoMon 23 Dec 2024 at 4:48am
1m agoMon 23 Dec 2024 at 5:12am
That is all for the ABC Sport live blogA pretty convincing series win for the Aussies, thanks for the blog Mick.
- Mike
Australia had already retained the Rose Bowl, but they now claim a series win.
New Zealand had their moments in both matches, but they made mistakes that cost them a chance to fight for the win.
For Australia, they remain undefeated this summer heading into the Ashes, which begin on January 12.
That is all for the live blog today.
Happy Christmas to those who observe, and compliments of the season to you all.
ABC Sport will have a live blog on December 26 for the Boxing Day Test, and the start of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.
Goodbye.
Key Event
6m agoMon 23 Dec 2024 at 5:07am
Alyssa Healy is collecting the Rose Bowl trophy, which remains in Australia's possession after 25 years.
The captain said her team should be very pleased with their two victories in Wellington over a good opposition.
"I thought it was an excellent performance," Healy says.
"I think our depth with both bat and ball have been on show.
"I'm pretty pleased … I think overall everyone should feel pretty pumped about how they played."
9m agoMon 23 Dec 2024 at 5:04am
Sophie Devine speaks after the lossNew Zealand have neede to chase 292 and 291 in the past two losses this series.
The White Ferns were in with a real chance half-way through the inning, but fell away at the end.
Captain Sophie Devine says the team can take some positives out of the defeat.
"I think 290 is probably going to be the new par score in women's 50 over cricket, so it's certainly not out of our reach," she says.
"I thought today we showed great intent. I thought everyone in the top order made starts and now it is about how can we kick on."
14m agoMon 23 Dec 2024 at 4:59am
Annabel Sutherland is named player of the seriesThis was an easy one.
Annabel Sutherland was player of the match in both matches that were played.
Sutherland was asked about playing with a team of terrific players and what that is like for a 23-year-old.
"I feel like every game you play, you are learning all the time," she says.
"We've got a great coaching staff too … I feel like my game is always getting better."
17m agoMon 23 Dec 2024 at 4:56am
Annabel Sutherland named player of the matchAnnabel Sutherland has been deemed player of the match.
She scored 42 runs with the bat and then claimed three wickets.
Key Event
21m agoMon 23 Dec 2024 at 4:53am
Key Event
25m agoMon 23 Dec 2024 at 4:48am
It is another Rose Bowl series win for Australia.
New Zealand's run chase started well, but the Aussies fought back in the middle overs.
In the end, the White Ferns were 75 runs short.
Key Event
26m agoMon 23 Dec 2024 at 4:47am
Kim Garth comes back into the attack.
Garth bowls short and Maddy Green pulls to deep square for a single.
Eden Carson is the number 11 batter
She gets an inside edge onto her pad for her first delivery.
OUT. Kim Garth gets a wicket.
Eden Carson hits the ball to Ash Gardner at mid-wicket for the final wicket.
Key Event
28m agoMon 23 Dec 2024 at 4:45am
Great fielding from Australia.
Molly Pnefold whacked a ball into deep mid-wicket.
New Zealand ran one, and decide to attempt a risky second.
Ash Gardner on the boundary fires the ball in. Alana King collect, then throws down the stumps at the striker's end.
Penfold is a few inches out of her crease.
New Zealand are nine down.
30m agoMon 23 Dec 2024 at 4:43am
43rd over — King continuesPenfold swings and the ball is in the air.
Somehow, the ball lands between point and backward point. Penfold gets a single, and more importantly, gets Maddy Green on strike.
FOUR. Green goes for the reverse sweep against Alana King and she strikes it purely. Four runs for New Zealand.
Green skips down the wicket and knocks the ball to long-on for a single.
Penfold is hit on the pad for not run.
Penfold then plays a reverse sweep for two runs. I don't think many at the Basin Reserve were expecting that.
33m agoMon 23 Dec 2024 at 4:40am
42nd over — Sutherland continuesSutherland bowls to Green who pulls to fine leg for two runs.
That brings up the 200 for New Zealand.
Another pull shot goes to deep square for a single.
Molly Penfold is on strike
Penfold strikes to mid-off, but there is no run.
Penfold then misses, but Beth Mooney at keeper fumbles the ball and New Zealand runs a bye.
Sutherland bowls short and Green pulls to deep square for another single.
Penfold will face the final ball and she gets bat on ball to run a single.
37m agoMon 23 Dec 2024 at 4:37am
41st over continuesMolly Penfold is the new batter.
The first ball is fended, and then Penfold is beaten on the outside edge.
Penfold fends twice more to end the over.
Key Event
38m agoMon 23 Dec 2024 at 4:35am
Bowled.
Alana King bowls a quicker ball which skids on.
Rosemary Mair tried to cut, but missed the ball and is clean bowled.
39m agoMon 23 Dec 2024 at 4:34am
41st over — King continuesDROPPED. Mair hits hard and Ellyse Perry at mid-off drops the catch.
It was going fast, but Perry will be annoyed with herself.
Mair runs two.
Key Event
39m agoMon 23 Dec 2024 at 4:34am
The White Ferns need 9.4 an over from the final 10.
40m agoMon 23 Dec 2024 at 4:33am
40th over continues — Rosemary Mair is battingSutherland bowls to Rosemary Mair who hits a short ball in the air, but it falls just short of Megan Schutt at fine leg.
Maddy Green cuts the final ball of the over, but it is hit directly to Alana King at point for no run.
Key Event
42m agoMon 23 Dec 2024 at 4:31am
Izzy Gaze skipped down the wicket and played a cross-bat shot.
The ball hits high on the pad and goes to the waiting hands of Alyssa Healy at mid-on.
Three wickets for Annabel Sutherland.
43m agoMon 23 Dec 2024 at 4:30am
40th over — Sutherland continuesAnnabel Sutherland bowls to Izzy Gaze who works it into the leg side for a single. Gaze is off the mark.
A short ball is hooked by Green to fine leg for a single.
INSIDE EDGE. Gaze went for a big swing but edges the ball onto her pads. No run.
45m agoMon 23 Dec 2024 at 4:28am
39th over — King continuesNew Zealand's required run rate is up to 8.4 with 12 overs left.
Maddy Green misses a ramp shot, but the ball also beats Beth Mooney at keeper. Mooney tried to anticipate where the ball was going, but needed to stay where she was. Two byes for New Zealand.
King bowls to Green and it is a dot ball.
APPEAL. Another attempted ramp is mistimed. Australia appeal for LWB. The umpire says no. The replay shows there was a little edge onto the pad.
A cut shot for no run is followed by a successful ramp to fine leg for two runs.
That is the first runs off the bat for 18 balls.
49m agoMon 23 Dec 2024 at 4:24am
38th over — Sutherland back in to bowlAnnabel Sutherland bowls to Maddy Green, and a ball off her pads goes for a leg bye.
A shorter ball to Izzy Gaze is fended.
BEATEN. Sutherland passes the outside edge of Gaze's bat.
Gaze fends to the off side for no run, then into the leg side for no run.
The final ball of the over is another dot ball as Gaze cannot be backward point.
