Ferns do well to overhaul big target

A century from Amy Satterthwaite guided the White Ferns to victory in their opening game of the oneday series against Australia in Auckland.

Having won the Twenty20 series during the week, the White Ferns followed that up with a fivewicket win over Australia at Eden Park Outer Oval yesterday to give New Zealand the series lead heading into the next two games at Mount Maunganui on Thursday and Sunday.

Satterthwaite finished unbeaten on 102, as the White Ferns reached 276-5 with five balls to spare in pursuit of Australia’s 275.

Batting at No 3, Satterthwaite faced 113 balls and hit nine fours, her sixth one-day international hundred, but even when the run rate was climbing, she kept the score ticking over.

Satterthwaite praised the work of the top order batters and how Katey Martin (43) and Katie Perkins (29) came in and took the pressure off her.

‘‘I had a bit of a slow start but I knew I had to bat deep,’’ Satterthwaite said on television afterwards.

Satterthwaite said she was struggling to find the gaps at the start, but that came later in her innings.

Captain Suzie Bates scored 55 opening the innings, but praised Satterthwaite’s knock.

‘‘When Amy’s in the middle you know you’re in safe hands,’’ Bates said. ‘‘I thought that innings was outstanding and one of her best for New Zealand when we needed it.’’

Medium-pacer Amanda-Jane Wellington was the best of the Australian bowlers, picking up two scalps.

Earlier Australia’s score was set up by a century from opener Beth Mooney, who scored 100 from 123 balls.

There were also half-centuries from Elyse Villani and Rachael Haynes, who both scored an even 50 in the middle order, but the Australian batting order collapsed after that, when it had looked like they were going to post an even bigger total.

The wickets were shared around the New Zealand bowlers, but seamer Lea Tahuhu grabbed 4-59 opening the bowling and Holly Huddleston picked up 3-46, as they bowled Australia out in 48.4 overs.