Indomitable Australia produce a statement win, even by their extraordinary standards

On a scale of one to inevitable, how much of a statement did Australia make in their T-20 World Cup opener a tournament at which the other nine teams might as well be competing for the right to play them (and probably lose to them) in the final?

On the evidence of their 97-run win over New Zealand: a massive one.

Australia recovered from losing Beth Mooney for a duck to what will be one of the catches of the tournament (Eden Carsen’s low diving take to her right at backward point) to post their highest score against New Zealand and earn their third largest win. Their big three – Alysaa Healey, Meg Lanning and Eliyse Perry  shared in the partnerships on which their total was built, before Ash Gardner took a career-best 5 for 12 in 18 balls. New Zealand were dismissed for their third-lowest total – 76 – to demonstrate how deep the chasm is growing between Australia and the rest.

Australia 171 for 9 in 20 overs (Alyssa Healy 55, Meg Lanning 41; Amelia Kerr 3-23, Lea Tahuhu 3-37) beat New Zealand 76 in 14 overs (Amelia Kerr 21; Ash Gardner 5-12, Megan Schutt 2-8) by 97 runs