Gardner, NZ aim to hit back in Geelong T20

Elyse Villani has backed teammate Ashleigh Gardner to regroup quickly after a nightmare Australian T20 debut against New Zealand.

Australian newcomer Ashleigh Gardner and New Zealand have points to prove in Sunday's second T20 international at Geelong.

While Australia cruised to a 40-run win on Friday at the MCG, Gardner suffered a nightmare debut.

The 19-year-old already had some attention on her, as the first indigenous member of an Australian women's cricket team since Faith Thomas played her one Test in 1958.

Coming in at No.3, Gardner only lasted one delivery.

She survived a lbw appeal and started down the pitch for a quick single.

Sent back by captain Meg Lanning, Gardner was slow to react and a sharp throw ran her out for a golden duck.

"Speaking from experience, I know how nerve-wracking it can be," said teammate Elyse Villani.

"You start thinking it's a different game, when it's not really.

"She's going to be better for the experience ... she'll be glad to get the first game out of the way."

Villani pointed out that Gardner was a player with plenty of potential.

"She's the kind of player who's not going to come off every single game, but we back her," Villani said.

"The way she's been playing in the WBBL, we know that's going to be successful at this level.

"I have no doubt her day will come and, when she does, she will tear the attack apart."

Villani also expected a better performance from the Kiwis, who were on top when Gardner's dismissal left the Southern Stars struggling at 2-20.

Lanning and Villani then took the game away from New Zealand with a 110-run stand.

The two teams have made a habit of close games in the past couple of years, with the White Ferns holding an advantage.

Just as the Australians expect a fired-up opposition in Geelong, NZ captain Suzie Bates will demand it.

"Especially (in) the last two years, every game has been really close and we've been on the winning side of a lot of Twenty20s," Bates said.

"That's why (Friday) is so disappointing ... you can't really dwell on a performance like that.

"That's not how we want to play our cricket - we're much better than that.

"We have to take a hard look at ourselves and make sure we bounce back."

The women's match starts at 2.35 and is a curtain-raiser to the second Australia-Sri Lanka men's T20.


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Gardner, NZ aim to hit back in Geelong T20 | SBS News