The Rose Bowl series reaches its final night at North Sydney Oval on Thursday, 22 October. Australia took the opener by two wickets after a dramatic collapse, and the third T20I closed out a three-match run at the same ground. The reigning T20 World Cup champions hold the form and the home advantage. A new-look New Zealand side showed in game one that it can push them hard. This prediction covers the match details, form, squads, key players, conditions, and a pick.
Match Details
The key facts for the series finale:
- Fixture: Australia Women vs New Zealand Women, 3rd T20I
- Date: Thursday, 22 October 2026
- Start time: 7:15 PM AEDT (1:45 PM IST), a night match
- Venue: North Sydney Oval, Sydney
- Captains: Sophie Molineux (Australia), Melie Kerr (New Zealand)
- Broadcast: Channel 7, 7plus, Fox Cricket, and Kayo in Australia, with ABC radio coverage. Sky Sport NZ covers the series in New Zealand. There is no TV broadcast in India, but FanCode streams the matches.
This is the first bilateral women’s series where the revived Rose Bowl trophy is on the line in T20Is. Australia have held the trophy since February 2000.
How the Series Has Unfolded
Australia won the first T20I on 18 October by two wickets with seven balls to spare. New Zealand posted 162 for 2 after Australia chose to bowl, with Georgia Plimmer making 85 not out off 68 balls and Maddy Green adding an unbeaten 56. Australia chased 163, but they slumped to 145 for 7 in the 16th over before the lower order finished the job. Ellyse Perry made 52 off 30 balls, and Beth Mooney added 38. Jess Kerr took 3 for 25. The second T20I followed on Tuesday at the same ground.
Form Guide
Australia arrived with a long unbeaten streak. They won their last 10 T20Is before this series, and the opener made it 11. They also went through the 2026 T20 World Cup undefeated, beating England in the final at Lord’s in July, and swept the West Indies in March. The one dent this year came in February, when India won a home series 2-1.
New Zealand’s recent record is mixed. Their last ten T20Is read L W W L L L W L W W, and they missed the semi-finals at the World Cup after defeats to the West Indies, Sri Lanka, and England. Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates, and Lea Tahuhu have all retired from international cricket.
Australia have also won their last five bilateral T20I series against New Zealand, including 3-0 sweeps in the last two. The last meeting came in March 2025, when Australia took all three games, winning the final by eight runs.
Australia Team News
Molineux leads the side after recovering from a hip niggle that kept her out of the Bangladesh ODIs. Left-arm quick Lucy Hamilton is also back from a quad problem. Phoebe Litchfield was a fitness doubt coming into the series and was not part of the XI in the opener.
The Australia squad: Sophie Molineux (c), Ashleigh Gardner (vc), Tahlia McGrath (vc), Nicola Carey, Kim Garth, Lucy Hamilton, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, and Georgia Wareham.
In the first T20I, the XI was Georgia Voll, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner, Georgia Wareham, Annabel Sutherland, Nicola Carey, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Kim Garth, and Lucy Hamilton. Expect a similar side, but the XI is confirmed only at the toss.
New Zealand Team News
Off-spinner Eden Carson returns after elbow surgery and a long layoff. Polly Inglis keeps wicket, with Izzy Gaze unavailable after thumb surgery. Dean Brownlie is interim head coach for the tour.
The New Zealand squad: Melie Kerr (c), Eden Carson, Flora Devonshire, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Bree Illing, Polly Inglis (wk), Bella James, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Nensi Patel, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, and Izzy Sharp.
Key Players to Watch
A few names stand out from the numbers so far:
- Ellyse Perry (Australia): Her 52 off 30 balls in the opener rescued a shaky chase.
- Beth Mooney (Australia): She has been part of four of Australia’s five biggest T20I partnerships this year, including 392 runs with Voll.
- Nicola Carey (Australia): She has played dot balls on only about 21 percent of her deliveries in 2026, the best rate among batters from Test-playing countries (minimum 25 balls faced).
- Georgia Plimmer (New Zealand): Her 85 not out was a breakout innings and earned her Player of the Match despite the loss.
- Maddy Green (New Zealand): She made 154 runs at an average of 30.8 in her last six T20I innings against Australia before the opener, and she followed it with 56 not out.
- Jess Kerr (New Zealand): She took 3 for 25 and rattled Australia’s middle order.
Pitch and Conditions
North Sydney Oval has treated batters well. Australia have played 12 women’s T20Is here and won 11, including four against New Zealand. Teams have scored at 8.4 runs an over at the ground since 2015, the highest rate among Australian venues in that span. The forecast, as of mid-October, pointed to drier weather with temperatures in the mid-20s on Thursday. Check the local forecast closer to the start.
Match Prediction
Australia are clear favourites. They have the better recent record, the home crowd, the stronger depth, and a ground that suits them. New Zealand is not far off, though. The opener showed what a calm, unbeaten partnership between Plimmer and Green can do, and Australia’s collapse from a winning position proves the hosts can be rattled.
Three factors could decide it:
- Powerplay wickets, which would stop the New Zealand batters from settling.
- How Australia’s middle order handles spin and swing after the chase wobble.
- Whether Carson’s return gives New Zealand a bigger threat in the middle overs.
Expect another close contest, with Australia holding the edge.
Conclusion
Australia head into the finale as favourites, but this series has shown that New Zealand are far from a pushover. Georgia Plimmer and Maddy Green proved the visitors can build a big total at North Sydney Oval, and Australia’s collapse in the chase showed the hosts can be rattled. The Rose Bowl, a home crowd, and a ground that rewards fast scoring all point to another tight contest on Thursday night.
Our website, PB77, brings cricket fans match previews and predictions throughout the season, along with sports betting markets on cricket and other sports. Check both teams’ news before the toss and follow the series with us.
FAQs
When is the Australia Women vs New Zealand Women 3rd T20I?
The match took place on Thursday, 22 October 2026, at 7:15 PM AEDT. It is played at North Sydney Oval in Sydney.
Who captains each team?
Sophie Molineux leads Australia. Melie Kerr captains New Zealand.
What happened in the first T20I?
Australia won by two wickets with seven balls to spare. New Zealand made 162 for 2 and Australia replied with 165 for 8.
Where can I watch the match?
Channel 7, 7plus, Fox Cricket, and Kayo show it in Australia. Sky Sport NZ covers it in New Zealand, and FanCode streams it in India.
What is the Rose Bowl?
It is the trophy contested when Australia and New Zealand meet in bilateral women’s series. Australia has held it since February 2000.