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Captain Meg Lanning has implored her Australia side to learn some harsh lessons after being bowled out for the nation's lowest women's Twenty20 total in a humiliating loss to New Zealand.
The Australians were dismissed for a paltry 66 at the Adelaide Oval in a 47-run loss that handed the Kiwis a 2-1 series triumph.
The Chiefs start their season with a 23-15 win away from home over the Highlanders, despite being dominated in possession and territory for a majority of the game.
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New Zealand won the match and the series. Photo: Getty Images
Australia's previous lowest T20 score in a completed innings was 73 all out against the Kiwis in 2010.
On Wednesday, only two Australians - Alex Blackwell (30no) and Alyssa Healy (12) - reached double-figures.
The top order collapse was rapid: after Beth Mooney was run out on the fourth ball, the hosts lost their next four wickets in a span of 11 balls.
The initial five batters dismissed made just eight runs. And the entire innings lasted just 16 overs.
"Obviously losing early wickets is not ideal in T20 cricket," Lanning said.
"But we had the double whammy of losing wickets and not being able to get the scoreboard ticking over as well.
"We never really got any momentum in either of the last two games to be able to chase down totals we would back ourselves to do most of the time."
Lanning said the batters had let their bowling teammates down after the Kiwis were restricted to 8-113.
New Zealand's batters suffered a collapse of their own, losing 4-2 in six balls as Australian legspinner Amanda-Jane Wellington ran rampant.
Wellington took 4-16 from four overs, including three wickets in an over - the first the prized scalp of Kiwi captain Suzie Bates, who top-scored with 31 from 34 balls.
AAP
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