Plimmer’s unbeaten 85 was her highest T20 international score. New Zealand made 162 for six, before Australia reached their target with seven balls to spare to score a two wicket victory.
Following the retirement of legends Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates and Lea Tahuhu, this White Ferns team, under the leadership of captain Amelia Kerr, is trying to find their own identity.
Plimmer is one of the key players in the team’s future plans.
“To be out there with someone like Maddy [Green], who has that experience and was able to calm me down out there and create a partnership was a pretty cool moment,” Plimmer said after the match.
The 22-year-old was playing her 55th T20 international and so her knock has been a long time coming, but something the selectors were confident would happen.
“When I started [opening the innings] I got to do it with Suzie Bates and tried to learn as much as I could from her and now it’s an opportunity for young players to try and step up.
“Hopefully that [innings] can push me forward and get some more confidence as well.”
Sunday’s knock pushed Plimmer’s batting average up to 20 and she said her introduction to the international game had been challenging.
“Having to learn in international cricket especially when I came in, I definitely didn’t feel like I was ready at that point. For me it was mental and trying to build confidence when you haven’t done it before was the toughest thing to do.
“There have been a lot of tough conversations and work behind the scenes to get me to where this is.”
After being asked to bat first New Zealand fell to 35 for two in the seventh over before Plimmer and Maddy Green, with an unbeaten 56, got the visitors through to a respectable score.
Australia lost regular wickets during the middle of their innings and were 145 for seven at one stage but Ellyse Perry’s rapid half century proved the difference.
Game two is also at North Sydney Oval on Tuesday night.