Australia suffered a dramatic start to its T20 clash against New Zealand in Mackay when Ash Gardner was felled by a teammate while warming up but were well-positioned to win the season-opening match.

After New Zealand decided to bat in sticky conditions in central Queensland, the Australians were able to restrict their rivals to 7 for 143 from their 20 overs.

It is a competitive target on what appears to be a slightly off-pace pitch and the humidity at the Great Barrier Reef Stadium is expected to reach almost 90 percent by the end of play.

In return Australia was 3-44 off 6.1 overs.

Australia Dominates New Zealand's Batting Order

New Zealand captain Suzie Bates said prior to the match that the Kiwis planned to take the fight to the Australian attack and she led by the front with an enterprising innings of 33. The Kiwi opener became the first New Zealander of either sex to score 1000 runs against Australia in T20 matches but received little support from her top order while batting.

The Australians made quick work of the New Zealand top order, with Tayla Vlaeminck securing the first wicket in the third over when opener Georgia Plimmer dabbed a short-pitch ball to gully when mistiming an attempted cut to fall for 11. Molineux then chimed in to claim Amelia Kerr when the New Zealander drove her ball straight to Annabel Sutherland at mid-on when out for seven. By the end of the powerplay, New Zealand was 2-35, with Bates clubbing an impressive four over mid-wicket on the final delivery of the sixth over.

Wareham Reaches Milestone

Georgia Wareham, who was involved in the dramatic collision that forced Garnder’s withdrawal before the match, snared her 100th wicket for Australia with her opening ball. Brooke Halliday played all around a full toss from the first ball of Wareham’s spell and was struck on the pad, with a referral proving unsuccessful for the No.4.

Bates’ enterprising innings came to an end for 33 runs from 27 balls when she top-edged a short-pitched delivery from Sutherland, allowing Alyssa Healy an easy catch.

Maddy Green was dynamic in the middle order when making 35 from 33 balls, but no other New Zealand batter was able to score more than 14 as each of the six bowlers Australia used collected a wicket. Off-spinner Sophie Molineux snared a wicket with her opening ball and was the pick of the Australian bowlers when taking 1 for 19 from her four overs.

Megan Schutt was reintroduced into the attack with three overs remaining and was able to tempt Maddy Green, who made 35 from 33 balls, into a bid to guide a ball down leg side. She only succeeded in finding Heather Graham at short-leg, which robbed New Zealand of momentum and an opportunity to reach 150.

Gardner's Injury and Healy's Leadership

Earlier Gardner was been ruled out in a dramatic preamble to the match when she collided with Wareham during a warm-up. The Aussies were playing a game of soccer prior to the match at the Great Barrier Reef Stadium when they pair hit heads, with Gardner going to ground. The 27-year-old has a history of concussion and, while the Australians said that Gardner was hit in the jaw, she was replaced in the team by Graham.

Both Kim Garth, who is recovering from a knee injury, and Grace Harris, who has a calf strain, are also missing from the Australian side. Australian captain Alyssa Healy described it as a chaotic hour leading into the match, with the coin toss and match start time delayed as a result. “There was a little bit of chaos in the warm up ... two big bodies going at it in the warm-up and unfortunately Ash Gardner is out tonight,” she said. “But this is a great opportunity for us to get out there as a team ahead of what is a really big eight months for us.”

Healy's focus on team cohesion and her determination to field the strongest possible team ahead of the T20 World Cup shines through her statements. The Australian team's depth and experience are evident in their ability to overcome unexpected challenges like Gardner's injury.

New Zealand Looking to Turn Things Around

New Zealand captain Sophie Devine is recovering from an ankle injury and will not play, with the Kiwis winning the toss and deciding to bat. The Kiwis are on a challenging run, having lost 11 of their last 13 T20 matches, making this series a crucial opportunity for them to regain momentum.

Australia Focused on Maintaining Consistency

New Zealand’s intent was clear, with the tourists attempting to take their rivals on from the opening ball, as per the vow of the stand-in skipper Bates. However, the Australian bowlers were too strong for the Kiwi batters.

Australian captain Alyssa Healy ruled out any chance of experimenting for the upcoming T20 World Cup in the three-match series against New Zealand, adamant that after a long time apart it’s crucial to work on the “vibe” that has made them successful for so long. Healy’s team will be pursuing an unprecedented fourth consecutive T20 World Cup in October and the series against the Kiwis in Mackay marks the start of the lead-in.

Looking Ahead to the World Cup

The Aussies haven’t played an international series since their tour of Bangladesh in March when they cruised to a 3-0 victory as part of a World Cup reconnaissance mission made redundant when the tournament was moved to the United Arab Emirates due to political unrest. But the lengthy break has given players used to full schedules the chance to address any and all “niggles” according to Healy who said having a “fairly settled” line-up meant giving those first-choice players as much game time as possible. “We’ve obviously had a little bit of a rough winter, a few niggles floating around and managing some people coming back from injury, but we’re still looking to pick our best 11 in every fixture who are available at the time,” she said on Wednesday. “I think when you look at our side as a whole, we’ve been pretty settled in the T20 game for a long period of time and I guess Bangladesh was a good opportunity for us to try a few things just in case, what-if scenarios, if some of our key players go down, you know, who can fill those roles? But I think for us now having some consistency around our 11 leading into a World Cup, you still use all 15 players I find in a World Cup to win it, but everyone knows their roles and you know who will come in place of one another, so I think we’re in a good place in that regard.”

The teams for tonight’s clash are; Australia XI: Alyssa Healy (c, wk), Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Heather Graham, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Georgia Wareham, Annabel Sutherland, Sophie Molineux, Megan Schutt, Tayla Vlaeminck

New Zealand XI: Suzie Bates (c), Georgia Plimmer, Melie Kerr, Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Izzy Gaze (wk), Leigh Kasperek, Jess Kerr, Lea Tahuhu, Molly Penfold, Fran Jonas

The only possible adjustment to what has been a stable T20 line-up could be pairing speedsters Darcie Brown and Tayla Vlaeminck together in the same line-up. Brown has recovered from a foot injury, while Vlaeminck is back and firing after dealing with myriad injury issues and it’s a prospect that excites Healy. “Hugely excited to have Darcy and Tay in the same squad at the same time and available to play,” she said. “It creates some dilemmas for us but at the same time it’s really exciting and you know the thought that whether we play them at the same time as well having that option is huge for us. So it’s great to see Darce, she’s a ball of energy around our group and I think she’s excited to be here, which makes it even better.”

A Series of Preparation

After the series in Mackay, which begins at 7pm tonight at the Great Barrier Reef Arena and includes matches on Sunday night and next Tuesday, the Australians will travel to Dubai for a World Cup that has been transferred from Bangladesh due to security concerns. The Aussies will face India in an ODI series in early December and then host England in an Ashes series comprising three ODI matches, three T20 games and a Test match at the MCG at the end of January. The day-night game Will has been scheduled in celebration of the 90th anniversary of the first women’s Test match.

This series against New Zealand, despite the team's struggles, is an important stepping stone in their preparation for the World Cup. Australia's success in the upcoming tournament will rely on the experience and form of their core players, and this series provides a valuable opportunity for them to fine-tune their game plan and solidify their team chemistry.

Next Up for Litchfield and the Australian Team

While the Aussies are coming off a long break, New Zealand hit the series having lost 11 of their last 13 T20 matches and are confronting the World Cup favourites in a series for the first time since 2021. Litchfield remains wary of a squad headed by the experienced Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates, who will play in their ninth T20 World Cups. “They have game-winners and are the kind of team that can take the game away from you,” Litchfield said on Tuesday. “We back ourselves against any side; it’ll be really nice to get out there and play together after not playing for several months.” Australia have not played an international series since their tour of Bangladesh in March, but most of the squad recently featured in England's The Hundred last month, or played for Australia A against India A.

This series is a critical opportunity for the Australian team to demonstrate their skill, strategy and team spirit. With a World Cup on the horizon, the team's success in the coming months will be a testament to their dedication and perseverance, and a reflection of their ambition to continue their reign as champions of the T20 World Cup.