Australia Start Global Tournament Title Defence with Win

Women's World Cup match in Indore

Australia scored 326 runs (49.3 overs): Gardner 115 (83); Tahuhu 3-42

New Zealand managed 237 runs (43.2 overs): Devine scored 112 from 112 balls; Molineux claimed 3 wickets for 26 runs

Australia secured an 89-run victory

Ash Gardner delivered a magnificent lower-order century as Australia started the defence of their Women's World Cup title with an 89-run victory over New Zealand in Indore.

The all-rounder enabled her side recover after they fell to 128 for five, scoring 115 runs off 83 deliveries as the seven-time champions accumulated 326.

The White Ferns skipper Devine registered a defiant century of her own after coming in with her side at 0-2, and briefly threatened to pull the New Zealand team to a stunning win.

She hit 12 fours and three sixes in her run-a-ball 112, but was the initial of three New Zealand wickets in Sutherland's the 43rd over as Australia eliminated any hope of an opening defeat.

Phoebe Litchfield got Australia off to a flying start after Alyssa Healy won the coin toss and opted to bat first, making a 45 from 31 balls as they reached 81-1 at the end of the first powerplay.

Nevertheless the 22-year-old was dismissed by Melie Kerr with the first ball of the 11th over, and the Australian innings faltered until Gardner came to the crease.

Arriving at number six, Gardner orchestrated partnerships of 64 runs and 69 runs with Tahlia McGrath and Alana King, before being taken behind the wicket off Illing.

The New Zealand captain's knock began cautiously as she reconstructed with a 75-run pairing with Melie Kerr, but she accelerated as her team arrived at the 42-over mark needing 91.

But Sutherland bowled the experienced player to start a rapid end to the contest, with the White Ferns suffering their last four wickets for just two runs to be dismissed with 40 balls remaining.