The White Ferns Twenty20 dominance over their Australian counterparts continued today as the completed a 17 run win at AMI Stadium in Christchurch to stretch their unbeaten streak to six.
The hosts recovered from a horrible start to post a competitive 115 for nine and then bowled out Australia for 98.
Middle order batsman Amy Satterthwaite held the White Ferns innings together with a hard fought 42 after a devastating burst from Australian new ball bowler Ellyse Perry ripped out top order batsmen Suzie Bates, Maria Fahey and Aimee Watkins for ducks.
Satterthwaithe and Sara McGlashan put on a 45 run partnership for the forth wicket to lead the recovery on a slow pitch that seemed to suit the Australian attack.
“We lost a couple of early wickets which put it on the back foot but were able to bat around Amy (Satterthwaite) who worked the ball around and that’s what needed to happen on the slow wicket that was a bit soft on top,” McGlashan said after the match.
Some good running from the lower order helped the White Ferns, as did the extras with Australia conceding 22 in their 20 overs.
Australian pace bowler Perry returned the excellent figures of three for 14 while spinner Lisa Sthalekar chipped in with two for 16.
The White Ferns bowlers struck early, removing Rachael Haynes for three, Alex Blackwell for 8 and Sthalekar for 6.
Australia were in deep trouble at 35 for three, a position from which they were unable to recover despite a battling 45 from Shelley Nitschke.
Bates picked up three for 24 while Sophie Devine did a tidy job taking two for 19 with some outstanding catching and throwing capping a fine day in the field for the White Ferns.
McGlashan, who was one of the standout performers in the field with two athletic catches and a run-out, acknowledged the team effort, “We took most of our chances and it was that kind of pitch, where the fielding and bowling was going to play a big part”
This is the second match in the Rose Bowl which now moves to Queenstown for the One-Day component of the five match series.
Rose Bowl Series
Twenty20 Series
Fri 26 Feb – White Ferns won by 59 runs
Sun 28 Feb - White Ferns won by 17 runs
One-Day Internationals
Wed 3 Mar – White Ferns v Australia, Queenstown Events Centre, Queenstown
Sat 6 Feb - White Ferns v Australia, Queens Park, Invercargill
Sun 7 Feb - White Ferns v Australia, Queens Park, Invercargill
