A half century from Suzie Bates and fiery opening spell from Sian Ruck were the highlights of the White Ferns 18 run win over Australia in the ICC World Twenty20 warm up match at Molyneaux in St Kitts.
After winning the toss and electing to bat the White Ferns motored along to 85 for one, on the back of a 62 run partnership for the second wicket between Bates and Sara McGlashan.
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Bates' 51 came off 45 balls with five boundaries while McGlashan hit one four and a six in her 29.
The White Ferns middle order couldn’t take advantage of their strong start as the Australian bowlers clawed their way back into the game, conceding just 53 off the final ten overs as they managed to keep the White Ferns to 136 for six.
Australian left-arm spinner Shelley Nitschke was difficult to get away, returning figures of one for 19 off her four overs while leg spinner Sarah Elliott took one for 17 off three.
White Ferns strike bowler Sian Ruck got the White Ferns off to a great start in defence of their total with two early wickets including the prize scalp of Leah Poulton for one.
All-rounder Nitschke attempted to get the run chase back on track with a brisk 31 from 29 deliveries and captain Alex Blackwell struck an unbeaten 44 but the damage was done early with the run rate blowing out to an unmanageable asking rate. Australia ended the match on 118 for five.
Ruck finished with two for 11 off her four overs and was well supported by the economical bowling of Kate Broadmore and Lucy Doolan who chipped in with one for 22 and none for 22 respectively.
Coach Gary Stead was pleased with the team’s performance in difficult conditions.
“The match was set up by very good bowling and fielding from the team on a very rough and undulating outfield,” Stead said. “Rachel Priest was sharp behind the stumps and our attack bowled to the field”.
The White Ferns play the West Indies in their final warm up match on May 3before their tournament opener against India on May 6.
Short scorecard:
White Ferns 136 for six (Bates 51 off 45, Watkins 6 off 7, McGlashan 29 off 28, Devine 8 off 12, Perry 10 off 19, Priest 7 off 7, Browne 3* off 3; Blackwell 1/29, Perry 1/22, Haynes 0/12, Hunter 0/19, Nitschke 1/19, Elliott 1/17, Farrell 0/15)
Australia 118 for 5 (Vilani 6 off 10, Nitschke 31 off 29, Poulton 1 off 6, Blackwell 44* off 44, Cameron 19 off 22, Elliott 4 off 7, Perry 2* off 2; Ruck 2/11, Watkins 0/28, Doolan 0/22, Broadmore 1/22, Devine 0/9, Satterthwaite 1/23)
Teams:
White Ferns: Aimee Watkins, Suzie Bates,.Sara McGlashan, Sophie Devine, Kate Broadmore, Nicola Browne, Elizabeth Perry, Natalie Dodd, Lucy Doolan, Maria Fahey, Amy Satterthwaite
Australia: Elyse Villani , Shelley Nitschke, Leah Poulton, Alex Blackwell, Jessica Cameron , Sarah Elliott, Ellyse Perry, Julie Hunter, Erin Osborne, Rachael Haynes, Rene Farrell
Schedule:
2/05/2010 - White Ferns vs Australia - Warm up match
Molyneaux, St Kitts
+1day NZ, 2:00am
Result: White Ferns won by 21 runs
3/05/2010 White Ferns vs West Indies - Warm up match
Molyneaux, St Kitts
+1day NZ, 6:00am
6/05/2010 White Ferns vs India - Group B match
Warner Park, St Kitts
+1day NZ, 6:00am
8/05/2010 White Ferns vs Sri Lanka- Group B match
Warner Park, St Kitts
+1day NZ, 6:00am
10/05/2010 White Ferns vs Pakistan - Group B match
Warner Park, St Kitts
+1day NZ, 2:00am
