Cricket: White Ferns trounced in second T20 match

Morna Neilsen of New Zealand bats during the women's Twenty20 match against the Australian Southern Stars. Photo / Getty Images

They might have lost narrowly in the first game but New Zealand were no match for Australia in the second Twenty20 international in Sydney today, losing by 59 runs in the five-match series.

Australia managed a useful 128 for five from their 20 overs and then bundled out the White Ferns for 69 in 17.1 overs. Only Katey Perkins (19 off 15 balls) made double figures for New Zealand.

Australian openers Meg Lanning and Leah Poulton got their side off to solid start with a 46-run opening stand before three quick wickets pegged back the home side.

Rachel Candy caught Poulton of her own bowler for 18, Lucy Doolan trapped Manning LBW for 27 before Candy struck again to have Jess Cameron nicked out for two.

The ascendancy was short lived with the experienced Lisa Sthalekar pounding 52 off 32 balls while Alex Blackwell supported with 20.

Frances Mackay picked up two late wickets to finish with two for 15 off two overs while Candy took two for 24 off four.

The White Ferns' run chase got off to a horror start, losing their top five batsmen for single-figure scores.

Perkins provided some brief resistance but more was required with the rest of the line-up crumbling under the scoreboard pressure and quality Australian bowling.

Sthalekar capped off a stellar game with three for 16 while Julie Hunter, Sarah Coyte and Erin Osbourne picked up two apiece.

The teams meet again tomorrow at the same venue for the third match of the five match series. Australia won the first match on Friday by four wickets, with Jess Jonassen hitting a boundary off the penultimate ball to secure the win for the home side.