Two future superstars of Australian cricket announced themselves overnight, with Phoebe Litchfield and Annabel Sutherland notching maiden ODI centuries during the series finale against Ireland in Dublin.
Litchfield (106*) and Sutherland (109*) combined for an unbeaten 221-run partnership at Clontarf Cricket Club as the short-staffed Australians cruised towards a ten-wicket victory. It was Australia’s highest opening partnership in women’s ODIs, toppling the previous record set by Ruth Buckstein and Lindsay Reeler in 1988.
Australia chased the 218-run target in 35.5 overs to secure a 2-0 victory in the three-match bilateral series, wrapping up a seven-week winter tour in which they also retained the women’s Ashes.
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Litchfield, who turned 20 earlier this year, became the second youngest Australian woman to hit an ODI century, bettered only by Australian captain Meg Lanning.
The New South Wales prodigy, who was dropped on 96, had registered scores of 2, 1 and 4 in her previous ODIs knocks against Ireland and England.
“It means a lot,” Litchfield said after the win.
“We spoke about trying to have a better start up top, and I have been pretty dry in the runs column. So for (Sutherland) and I to go out and win the game, was pretty cool.”
Sutherland, elevated to open the batting for the first time in her ODI career, seized her opportunity at the top of the order to become the youngest Australian woman to hit hundreds in both Tests and ODIs.
“We’ve got a pretty stacked top order so opportunities are few and far between, so when they come I will put my hand up and try and do a job for the team,” Sutherland told cricket.com.au after the match.
“It was tough at times, we had to speak to each other a little bit between overs when things got a little bit frustrating, but it was just about letting the ball come to you and playing it late.”
Litchfield and Sutherland became the first Australian openers to score hundreds in the same ODI since Belinda Clark and Lisa Keightley achieved the feat in 1997.
The tourists were without wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy (fractured finger) and all-rounder Ellyse Perry (knee injury) for the third ODI, along with experienced seamer Megan Schutt and Lanning.
Tahlia McGrath took over the captaincy duties in their absence, becoming the 19th woman to lead Australia in ODIs, while Beth Mooney donned the gloves. It marked the first time Australia didn’t have Healy, Perry or Lanning in its starting XI since the 2009 World Cup.
Earlier, Ireland was bowled out for 217 after McGrath won the toss and elected to field first. Australian seamer Kim Garth, who previously represented Ireland in 34 ODIs, claimed 3-34 from eight overs, while spinner Ash Gardner finished with 3-38.
Ireland all-rounder Orla Prendergast notched a career-best 71, receiving support from opener Gaby Lewis (35) and captain Laura Delany (36).
