Australia beat New Zealand in Women's Cricket World Cup mismatch

Australia have thrashed New Zealand at Basin Reserve, winning by 141 runs in a dominant performance that cemented their tag as pre-tournament favourites.

Meg Lanning's side were pinned down early after being sent in to bat, scratching around for runs at 3-56.

From that point on though, Australia produced a near faultless performance, firing with bat and ball to claim three wins from as many World Cup outings in New Zealand.

Ellyse Perry and Tahlia McGrath struck half-centuries, and Ash Gardner, fresh out of COVID-19 isolation, clobbered 48 runs off 18 balls as Australia dug in to reach an improbable 8-269.

The Aussie pace attack did the damage as the White Ferns finished all out for 128, their three most lethal bats gone within eight overs.

Perry bowled Sophie Devine through the gate for six, before Darcie Brown ripped the heart out of the Kiwi top-order with the wickets of Amelia Kerr and Suzie Bates.

Beth Mooney produced a stunning dive in slips to remove Kerr, giving South Australian teenager Brown her first World Cup wicket.

The scorecard read «c Healy b McGrath» when Maddy Green poked at one shortly after, and Brown then trapped Frankie Mackay lbw to leave the Kiwis demoralised at 5-35.

Brown, who was dropped after a listless first-up effort against England, finished with 3-22 from a tearaway spell bowling with the wind.

The end was nigh for New Zealand, hastened by Amanda-Jade Wellington's (2-34) two wickets in two balls and Gardner's (2-15) late effort.

It might have been so different for the White Ferns, who have now lost 12 straight against Australia.

They were on top for much of the Aussie innings after winning the toss and bowling on a green wicket.

Openers Rachael Haynes and Alyssa Healy made a slow and steady start,