From rugby’s Bledisloe Cup to netball’s Constellation Cup, matches between Australia and New Zealand tend to have a bit more fire than most. As the two nations opened their campaign at the Women’s T20 World Cup, even the backdrop was dramatic: the mountains of Paarl rising up behind the ground and the sunset sensing the occasion, casting deep reds and oranges over Boland Park.
But while the scene was set for drama, the Australians appeared in the mood for a light-hearted romp, taking a dominant 97-run win over their trans-Tasman rivals, despite a batting performance that will have them asking some questions before the remainder of their pool games.
