Amelia Kerr delivered two crucial wickets in consecutive deliveries during the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 Group A match on Tuesday (October 8). Her excellent bowling spell was vital for New Zealand, turning the game against Australia. The dismissals of Ellyse Perry and Grace Harris within the same over gave New Zealand the upper hand.

Amelia Kerr’s double strike shifts momentum towards New Zealand

• Ellyse Perry Dismissed (13.5 Over)

Perry’s dismissal was more than just a regular wicket—it was a key turning point. Facing a well-disguised googly from Kerr, Perry misjudged the flight and turn of the ball. As the ball spun sharply between her bat and pad, it clipped the off stump, bringing an end to her composed innings of 30 off 24 balls. Kerr’s delivery was a masterclass in deception, using her wrist to generate significant turn after pitching. Perry, normally a solid presence at the crease, was caught off-guard, unable to adjust her footwork in time. This wicket came after an earlier dropped chance, making it even more rewarding for Kerr and her team.

• Grace Harris Clean Bowled (13.6 Over)

Kerr followed Perry’s dismissal with another almost identical piece of brilliance. Grace Harris, new to the crease, was greeted with a beautifully tossed-up googly. The ball drifted in and dipped just as Harris committed to a drive. The sharp turn and bounce off the pitch deceived her entirely, spinning between the bat and pad to crash into the middle and leg stumps. Harris, who had only faced one delivery, was beaten both in the air and off the pitch, leaving her vulnerable to Kerr’s skillful bowling. This wicket, Kerr’s second in two balls, put Australia in a tough position, turning the game in New Zealand’s favor as they were reduced to 109/4.

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Australia sets competitive 148/8 in Group A clash

Australia, opting to bat first in their Group A encounter against New Zealand, set a competitive total of 148/8. Captain Alyssa Healy provided early momentum with a brisk 26 from 20 deliveries, including four boundaries, while Beth Mooney anchored the innings with a composed 40 off 32 balls. Perry added further stability in the middle order, scoring a well-crafted 30 off 24 balls, but the team’s hopes of a bigger total were dented by New Zealand’s star bowler Kerr. Australia reached 100 by the 13th over, and despite looking set for a 160+ total, they lost crucial wickets in the final overs.

Kerr’s four-wicket haul stops Australia’s momentum

Kerr proved to be the game-changer for New Zealand, delivering a masterclass in leg-spin bowling. Her 4-wicket haul for 26 runs not only halted Australia’s march but shifted the momentum in favour of New Zealand. Kerr’s dismissal of Perry with a sharply turning googly in the 14th over, followed by the removal of Harris on the very next ball, was the turning point of the innings. She then claimed Georgia Wareham and the set Beth Mooney, both key breakthroughs that restricted Australia to a sub-150 score. Rosemary Mair (2/22) and Brooke Halliday (2/16) provided solid support, ensuring New Zealand finished the innings on a high note, restricting Australia’s flow of runs in the death overs.

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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.