MATCH 2: WHITE FERNS beat Ireland by 93 runs in Mohali, India on 19 March 2016
WHITE FERNS 177/3 (Suzie Bates 82, Sophie Devine 47)
Ireland 84/5 (Isobel Joyce 28; Erin Bermingham 2-17)
Milestones were cracked and milestones beckon after the New Zealand WHITE FERNS swamped Ireland in their second Group A match of the ICC World Twenty20 2016.
Dangerous Sophie Devine (above) blasted 47 off 34 balls, including two sixes, before being stumped just short of what would have been a fourth Twenty20 International half century to the aggressive striker.
Listen to Sophie Devine post match
Devine had shared a powerful century stand with her opener captain Suzie Bates, whose 82 off 60 balls was studded with seven boundaries and two back to back sixes and only added to Ireland's misery as she powered to her second player of the match award on the trot.
Bates had wasted no time opting to bat after winning the toss in the day game at Mohali's Punjab Cricket Association and continued her influential form as the guiding hand of the innings.
This looks like a happy #NZ captain at the toss! Back on a roll for sure now!! #WT20 pic.twitter.com/lOVX0k94pa
— WHITE FERNS (@WHITE_FERNS) March 18, 2016
Rachel Priest had quickly got things moving with three boundaries off the opening over, but was caught in the second before Bates and Devine began dishing out their punishment, operating at a triple figure strike rate throughout.
Suzie Bates produced one of her highest T20 International innings. ICC|Getty
The 19th run for Bates, a boundary, was also her 2000th in T20i cricket, making her the first New Zealand woman to achieve the mark and only the fourth worldwide — joining England's Charlotte Edwards and Sarah Taylor, and Stafanie Taylor of the West Indies.
Devine meanwhile would draw an inch closer to the rare 1000 runs/50 wickets double when she bowled Isobel Joyce late in the game to take her career wickets tally to 49. Bates is not far behind.
Amy Satterthwaite and Sara McGlashan adding a quick polish at the death, the WHITE FERNS had piled up 177 for three — and then brutally restricted Ireland to 84 for five.
It was the spinners' benefit. Cecilia Joyce would be stumped off Morna Nielsen in the third over, one of three stumpings in the match and two in the Ireland innings.
Leigh Kasperek would land a grenade in her first over in another strong and lean performance while leggie Erin Bermingham (2-17) would strike first ball, bowling Clare Shillington to destabilise Ireland at 30/3.
Irish skipper Isobel Joyce played a lone hand for her side with 28 before Devine broke through her defences and the chase got beyond any hope. Even by the halfway mark, at 34/3, they required a daunting 144 off 60 balls.
“It was a very pleasing win because it was a complete performance with bat and ball,” said Bates afterwards. “We needed such a win because we play Australia next, and have to be at the top of our game.”
That big match, at 11pm Monday night New Zealand time, will be televised on SKY Sport. Defending titleholders Australia meanwhile survived a close scare overnight in a six-wicket win against South Africa in Nagpur.
The WHITE FERNS lead the Group A table with four points from two matches and beat Australia 2-1 in their most recent bilateral Series in New Zealand this summer.
