New Zealand captain Suzie Bates scored an unbeaten century to help her team end a three-year one-day international drought against Australia in the opening match of the Rose Bowl cricket series in Sydney on Wednesday.
A massive second-wicket stand of 168 off 169 balls between opener Bates (122 not out off 131 balls) and Amy Satterthwaite (98 off 95) helped the White Ferns achieve their target of 249 with eight wickets and 5.1 overs to spare.
It was New Zealand's first ODI win over Australia in their past 13 completed games since March 2009.
"It's massive for this group," Bates said.
"We haven't had much form in the one-day format and we've struggled against the top sides, especially Australia and England.
"We've always said it's partnerships and that's what Amy and myself proved today, that if we do that we can beat any of the world class sides."
Opener Meg Lanning (87 off 71 balls) and captain Jodie Fields (51 off 57) provided most of the substance during an Australian innings which ended 11 balls early with 248 on the board.
Lanning smashed 13 fours and a six in a typically enterprising innings before effectively running herself out.
The innings subsided to 7-157 in the 32nd over before Fields and Erin Osborne (34 off 38) added 80 off 83 balls.
"We thought it was a little bit under (par) with the fast outfield and good wicket, we probably thought 300 was needed," Lanning said.
"We lost wickets at crucial times."
Fast medium bowler Rachel Candy (4-35 off nine overs) and left arm medium pacers Sian Ruck (2-37 off 9.1) and Morna Nielsen (2-39 off 10) all chipped away at Australia's batting lineup.
Bates struck 16 fours and a six in her fourth ODI ton.
"That's probably one of my best innings I think in terms of the other big scores I've had have been against weaker opposition," Bates said.
"I finished the job off which I haven't done in the past."
Satterthwaite, who was dropped on nine by wicketkeeper Fields, also struck 16 fours.
"We were always going to have to take early wickets to try and defend that total, unfortunately we couldn't do that and probably lacked a bit of penetration with our bowling," Lanning said.
Bates and Satterthwaite plundered an attack missing injured pace bowlers Ellyse Perry and Julie Hunter.
"Without them opening (the bowling) it did I think give us a little bit of momentum that we maybe haven't had in the past," Bates said.
"They are still a quality side, so we're really happy that we've managed to chase down that score."
The four-match series continues on Friday at North Sydney Oval.
AAP
Tags: sport, cricket, sydney-2000, new-zealand First posted December 12, 2012 23:24:31
No comments:
Post a Comment