New Zealand v Australia: third women's T20 international – live!

2.52am BST02:52

Speaking of Eden Park, the rectangular Auckland venue will be a new experience for Australia, with the women’s team having not played on the main ground in more than 20 years. We can expect some short, straight boundaries, and this match makes for an excellent opportunity to get comfortable before Australia play India here in the ODI World Cup next March. So, conditions!

2.46am BST02:46

Tearaway quick Darcie Brown is chatting with the Fox Sports panel two days after making her international debut. The sky behind the 18-year-old at Eden Park is looking a little dark. She says it’s windy but can’t feel any rain. Fingers crossed!

The coin toss has been slightly delayed.

2.33am BST02:33

Preamble

Emma Kemp

Well isn’t this unusual. It’s been a while since Australia have been pushed to a T20 decider. The first of a bilateral series since 2017, in fact, when they lost the 20-over leg of the Ashes (not the trophy though). Since then there has not been a blemish, with series wins over England, West Indies, Pakistan and current opponents, New Zealand, not to mention two World Cup titles.

So this is strange territory indeed for Meg Lanning’s side, who blew out the quarantine cobwebs by winning the first game, thanks largely to Ashleigh Gardner’s killer innings, before losing by four wickets in game two. It was a final-ball thriller to savour for the the White Ferns, who really copped it from England a few weeks back.

Strap yourselves in, here we go!

source: theguardian.com