Australia beat New Zealand by two wickets in first T20I

Australia scored 165 for 8 to beat New Zealand by two wickets in the opening Twenty20 International at North Sydney Oval on Sunday. The reigning T20 World Cup champions reached the target with seven balls to spare.

New Zealand posted 162 for 2 after an unbroken 127-run stand between Georgia Plimmer, who made a career-best 85 off 68 balls, and Maddy Green, who scored 56 from 37. Plimmer's innings was her fourth T20 half-century in 54 matches.

Australia lost seven wickets for 62 runs after Beth Mooney's run-out for 38, but number 10 Kim Garth hit the winning boundary. The White Ferns have now lost six of their past nine T20 matches.