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Australian skipper Alyssa Healy and her team are looking to consolidate their position in line for the World T20 Cup semifinals with a win over New Zealand. (Getty Images: Matthew Lewis/ICC)
It's nine matches and three-and-a-half long years since New Zealand's White Ferns last defeated Australia's women in any form of cricket — yet Alyssa Healy's side are very wary of old rivals who've started the T20 World Cup "playing out of their skin".
Group A so far
Inspired by big-hitting veteran captain Sophie Devine, the Kiwis's thumping of India in Dubai in their opening group A game has proved the stand-out performance of the tournament so far.
With Australia next up in Sharjah on Tuesday following the defending champions' assured start with a six-wicket win over Sri Lanka, victory will go a long way to helping one of the trans-Tasman rivals book their place in the semifinals in what looks much the more competitive of the two groups.
"Obviously, they played out of their skin and really attacked the Indian team," said Australian spinner Sophie Molineux, enthusing about the Kiwis's opening statement win.
"So I think the way we'll approach it won't be too dissimilar to how we approach every game, and that's to come out with intensity.
"Pretty cool," added Megan Schutt, who like Molineux shone in Australia's first contest.
"It opens up the tournament completely and shows if you have a lot of intent at the start what that can do in the powerplay. So, it'll be a great match.
"We've obviously just come off a series against them in Australian conditions, but it'll be an even tougher match up here."
Australia will need to restrict keep Sophie Devine if they want to beat New Zealand in their Group A match at the Women's T20 World Cup. (Getty Images: ICC/Alex Davidson)
In slow, stifling conditions that have led to a slew of low-scoring contests, New Zealand's 4-160 against much-touted India last Friday was the biggest score by far so far in the tournament, 42 runs more than any other side batting first.
Much came down to the late impetus of a 36-ball unbeaten 57 from veteran Devine, one of just two players along with teammate Suzie Bates who've featured in all nine editions of the tournament.
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In the recent T20 series between the two sides in Australia, the home side's clean sweep — winning by five wickets, 29 runs and then five wickets again — hardly bodes well for New Zealand.
But after the win over India, 35-year-old Devine was adamant that the result was overdue for a side that had been playing well but just hadn't been having the best of luck. "The cricket gods decided to be with us today," she said of the India win.
"Obviously, the conditions are very different to where we played them back in Australia," said Molineux, of the low, slow track that awaits.
"But again it's just about adapting, and they've obviously had a really good win so they're going to come in on a high, and hopefully we can carry on our momentum as well."
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