The New Zealand WHITE FERNS have swept to third on the International Women's Championship table courtesy of a classy victory in the second One-Day International in Lincoln.
Video scorecard
The win also carries the WHITE FERNS to a 2-0 Series lead, with one IWC points game to come in the inaugural five-ODI series between the two international teams.
Captain Suzie Bates enjoyed a strong all-round day, pocketing 3-27 off her 10 overs, her figures including two maidens.
Bates had made quick breakthroughs before an unbeaten 44-ball 70 in reply, as fellow opener Rachel Priest backed up her maiden century in the first ODI with an unbeaten 51 in the sunny conditions at Bert Sutcliffe Oval. It took just 14.3 overs for the pair to do the honours in the second match with an unbeaten 130-run opening stand.
Sri Lanka had been dismissed for 126 in 46.5 overs after having been sent in, Sophie Devine picking up her 50th ODI wicket with the first ball of her last spell — Chamari Polgampola (Kumarihami) top-scoring as she ground out 35 before offering a caught behind to Priest.
Earlier, Devine had struck with just her third ball in the second over of the day, bowling dangerwoman Chamari Athapaththu (Jayangani) on one to trigger the Sri Lankan wickets cascade, while the introduction of Morna Nielsen saw the spinner take a wicket first ball, Dilani Manodara (Surangika) caught on 31 to have Sri Lanka 58/5 after 19 overs.
Morna Nielsen struck first ball
As Bates and Priest began finding boundaries early, peeling 23 off the first three over, any remaining inkling of pressure was soon put away, along with 13 ebullient fours and a six to Bates, and nine boundaries to Priest. It was, unsurprisingly, the WHITE FERNS' biggest ODI win by wickets in its history with Sri Lanka, and a record opening stand.
The third ODI is at the same venue, Bert Sutcliffe Oval, on Saturday; entry to all WHITE FERNS matches is free.
