Bates in smashing form for White Ferns
Captain Suzie Bates scored New Zealand’s first Twenty20 international century as the White Ferns got their tri-series campaign off to a record-breaking start by smashing South Africa by 66 runs.
Bates, who finished with 124 not out, combined with Sophie Devine (73) to post a 182-run opening stand – the highest partnership for any wicket in women’s T20 internationals – as New Zealand went on to set a women’s record total of 216-1 in Taunton yesterday. The bowlers then restricted South Africa to 150-6.
‘‘I’m a little bit lost for words,’’ said Bates, after clubbing 16 fours and three sixes in one of her ‘‘cleanest’’ batting performances.
‘‘It was just one of those days where everything went our way and that partnership with Sophie just made batting seem quite easy. It’s not like that every day so I’m really pleased we went out with the ball and executed our plans on a really good wicket,’’ Bates said.
New Zealand’s world-record only lasted a matter of hours though, with world champions England reaching 250-3 in the first innings of the second match, also against South Africa. England won by an emphatic 121 runs. Holders of the highest score in one-day international cricket, after the White Ferns set 490-4 against Ireland earlier this month, Bates said the female batters were benefiting from the chance to play on top wickets.
‘‘If you’re a bowler you probably want a little bit more in the wicket but I’ve always said if you want to promote Twenty20 cricket in the women’s game then the grounds, the pace of the wicket and size of the boundaries is key, and that was probably one of the best wickets I’ve played on in a while and when you’ve got pace to work with it just makes being able to play your shots more comfortable.’’
At a glance
Tri-Nation Women’s Twenty20
international at Taunton: New Zealand 216-1 (Suzie Bates 124no off 66, Sophie Devine 73 off 48) beat South Africa 150-6 (Dane van Niekerk 58 off 44, Mignon du Preez 36 off 31; Hayley Jensen 3-28 off 4, Devine 1-21 off 3, Leigh Kasperek 1-24 off 3) by 66 runs.