Sophie Devine won the toss for New Zealand in their final match before heading to the T20 World Cup. Australia, aiming for a T20I series clean sweep, will bowl first at Allan Border Field in Brisbane, with Tayla Vlaeminck back in the lineup for the series finale.
Ashleigh Gardner had hoped for Australia to bat first and score big after a disappointing performance in the second game in Mackay. However, Devine’s decision to set a target for the hosts changed the course of the game. Vlaeminck replaced Darcie Brown as Australia continues to rotate their fast bowlers. Grace Harris and Kim Garth are still not available due to injury.
The teams’ lineups for the match are as follows:
Australia: Alyssa Healy (c) (wk), Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Georgia Wareham, Annabel Sutherland, Sophie Molineux, Tayla Vlaeminck, Megan Schutt
New Zealand: Suzie Bates, Georgia Plimmer, Amelia Kerr, Sophie Devine (c), Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Izzy Gaze (wk), Hannah Rowe, Rosemary Mair, Eden Carson, Fran Jonas
The White Ferns made two changes to their team in an attempt to end a nine-game losing streak, with Rosemary Mair and Hannah Rowe coming in for Molly Penfold and Lea Tahuhu. This match serves as the final preparation for both teams before they depart for the T20 World Cup in the UAE.
New Zealand arrived at Allan Border Field with their bags packed, ready to head straight to Brisbane Airport after the game for their early morning flight. Australia, on the other hand, will spend the day in Brisbane before flying out to Dubai in the evening.
In the CommBank T20I Series against New Zealand, the squads are as follows:
Australia squad: Alyssa Healy (c), Tahlia McGrath (vc), Darcie Brown, Ash Gardner, Kim Garth, Heather Graham, Grace Harris, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham
New Zealand squad: Sophie Devine (c), Suzie Bates, Eden Carson, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Fran Jonas, Leigh Kasperek, Jess Kerr, Melie Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu
The previous T20 matches between the two teams ended in Australia’s favor, with the hosts winning by five wickets and 29 runs in the first and second games, respectively. The third T20 match is scheduled for September 24 at Allan Border Field in Brisbane at 7:10 pm.