Ferns win rain-affected ODI series
Rain forced another international cricket match to be abandoned yesterday when the final ODI between the White Ferns and Bangladesh at Seddon Park was a washout.
Yesterday’s Hamilton fixture was the seventh lost to rain since March, extending the New Zealand record for international matches abandoned because of the weather in a calendar year.
The abandonment meant the White Ferns won the three-match series 1-0 after Wednesday’s second ODI in Napier was also washed out.
Suzie Bates hit her 31st ODI 50, although her first, unusually, without scoring any boundaries. She was out for 51 off 80 balls in the 26th over.
The next over, umpires Kim Cotton and Cory Black chatted for the first time about the weather and looked anxiously to the skies.
Two balls later, they called the players off after 26.5 overs, with the hosts 123-2.
The light showers were soon heavier and play, which started on time at 2pm, was officially abandoned at approximately 7:25pm.
Determined ground staff removed the covers for the first pitch inspection when the rain briefly relented after 6pm.
Within minutes, the covers were back on because of another downpour.
They were stripped off again before 7pm when the rain eased somewhat, although the chance of any play seemed remote.
The sensible decision to abandon the match, with more rain forecast last night, was finally made after another pitch inspection when the smattering of fans on the grass banks were long gone.
Before the rain, Melie Kerr (22) and Maddy Green (5) were the unbeaten batters and New Zealand were struggling to kick on against Bangladesh’s tricky spin bowlers, failing to score a boundary for 87 balls.
The White Ferns were sent in to bat under the gloomy skies but made a steady, risk-free start with captain Sophie Devine and Bates.
Their opening stand was worth 76 until Devine was caught in the 16th over for 42 off 39 balls from Salma Khatun’s spin. It was the first ball after the first drinks break.
Bates and Kerr resumed their innings as drizzle began to fall, but the umpires allowed play to continue for as long as they could.
The boundaries dried up in the rain and Bates, moments after reaching her 50 in 77 balls, lost her patience with a loose shot.
Ritu Moni’s spin deceived the opener, who skied the ball and was caught for 51 before rain stopped play.
Devine’s four fours were New Zealand’s only boundaries when the covers first came on.
The White Ferns players return to their Super Smash teams for the domestic Twenty20 competition that starts this week.
The team’s next competitive fixture is against Australia at the T20 World Cup in South Africa in February.