Cricket: Huge wins for NZ, Australia

Women's World Cup cricket favourites New Zealand and Australia had crushing wins in Christchurch yesterday.

New Zealand outclassed Sri Lanka by 122 runs and the Australians thrashed Ireland by 10 wickets.

Sri Lanka were dismissed for 88 in response to New Zealand's 210 for four wickets from their 50 overs.

The Sri Lankans started the match well by dismissing openers Debbie Hockley and Paula Flannery cheaply, but were on the back foot after that.

Anna O'Leary and Haidee Tiffen turned things around for New Zealand with a superb partnership of 137 for the third wicket before Tiffen departed for 58.

She struck one four and one six off 79 deliveries as she and O'Leary raised their century stand from 153 balls.

O'Leary finished unbeaten on 91, with only four boundaries from 137 deliveries.

The Sri Lankan innings was in turmoil at 39 for five in the 26th over before Hiroshi Abeysinghe lent some respectability with 30.

Her departure in the 47th over heralded a spectacular collapse as Sri Lanka lost their last five wickets in the space of 18 balls, four of them to run outs.

The other wickets were shared around by the New Zealand bowlers, with Katrina Keenan and Tiffen grabbing two each.

Australia made no race of it in their match with the Irish.

The defending champions cruised home in just 20.3 overs after Ireland were dismissed for 90.

Australian captain Belinda Clark and fellow opener Lisa Keightley could not be parted as the Irish bowlers struggled to make an impression.

Keightley finished on 49 from 71 balls, including five fours, while Clark scored 40 off 52 deliveries.

Earlier, Zoe Goss had toyed with the Irish side in returning outstanding figures of four for 10 off 9.3 overs. Two of those runs were from wides.

Only Catherine O'Neill, who top-scored with 28 off 107 balls, and Caitriona Beggs, who made 18, put up much resistance.

New Zealand's next match is against Ireland on Wednesday.

On Saturday, South Africa scored a shock five-wicket win against England and India had their second successive victory of the tournament, beating the Netherlands by 154 runs.

Sunette Viljoen was the toast of her team after steering South Africa to a relatively easy win.

She hit an unbeaten half-century to guide South Africa to their winning target of 144 with 19 balls to spare.

India chalked up 275 for four, to which the Netherlands could manage just 121 for six.

Three Indians posted half-centuries.

Points (games played in brackets): Australia 6 (3), India 4 (2), New Zealand 4 (3), England 2 (2), South Africa (2), Ireland 0 (2), the Netherlands 0 (2), Sri Lanka 0 (2).

- NZPA