Cricket: Suzie sizzles as White Ferns thrash Windies

Suzie Bates
Suzie Bates
There was a familiar theme to the White Ferns' win over the West Indies in the opening game of their one-day series in Lincoln on Saturday.

Super Suzie? Naturally.

Otago star Suzie Bates led in her typical style with an unbeaten 95 and bowling figures of two for 25.

The White Ferns held the West Indies to 181 for eight off 50 overs, and cruised to the target with nine wickets and 20.3 overs to spare.

Having won the toss and, perhaps surprisingly, opted to bat, the West Indies got off to a solid start, reaching 50 for one in the 14th over.

Kycia Knight looked set with a well-made 30, but her dismissal by Morna Nielsen was followed by the regular fall of wickets.

The dynamic Stefanie Taylor was her usual aggressive self, but undone by a direct hit in the field from Sophie Devine. The Kiwi all-rounder continued her involvement, taking two wickets of her own, including that of the dangerous Shanel Daley (24).

All the bowlers played a hand, with debutant Hayley Jensen looking particularly good with figures of one for 34 from eight overs.

In response, the White Ferns pair of Bates and Sara McGlashan (60 not out) dazzled, crunching their way to half-centuries and an easy victory. Bates brought up her 50 off 55 balls, with McGlashan taking just one extra ball.

Having surpassed a 100 partnership and with fewer than 50 runs to win, the duo picked up the tempo and dominated the West Indies bowlers to seal the victory inside 30 overs.

The Bates-McGlashan partnership had reached 142 when the winning run was hit.

Bates, the ICC one-day cricketer of the year, was understandably named player of the match.

The second of three ODIs is at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval today.

 

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