A record-breaking knock from opener Suzie Bates and an all-in display from the bowlers has seen the White Ferns notch their first win at this year’s Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa.
Following two dismal performances to open the tournament – in meek losses to Australia and hosts South Africa – the White Ferns finally put in a performance expected of them, defeating Bangladesh by 71 runs in Cape Town.
Leading from the front, Bates made an unbeaten 81 from 61 balls, complete with seven fours and one six, and in doing so became the first player to score 1000 runs at Twenty20 World Cups.
Bates, 35, added 77 with Bernadine Bezuidenhout for the first wicket – a partnership that surpassed the White Ferns’ two team totals from their opening matches, when they were bowled out for 76 and 67.
A quickfire 44 not out off 20 balls from Maddy Green as part of an 82-run stand with Bates pushed the total to 189/3 – the fourth-highest team score in women’s T20 World Cups.
Setting Bangladesh 190 for victory, the White Ferns bowlers struck regularly and limited Bangladesh to 118/8 in reply.
Spinner Eden Carson did the bulk of the damage with 3/18 from her four over spell, backed up by 2/15 from Hannah Rowe, who came into the side after the loss to South Africa.
Lea Tahuhu (1/19) and Amelia Kerr (1/24) shared two wickets between them, as Bangladesh had no answer to the White Ferns’ attack, unable to post a total of better than a run-a-ball.
Aside from restoring pride to the White Ferns’ jersey, the win was also a huge step towards an admittedly slim chance of New Zealand qualifying for the semi-finals.
The 71-run win margin lifted the White Ferns’ net run rate from -4.050 to -1.517.
Should the White Ferns secure a heavy win over Sri Lanka in their final pool match, and South Africa suffer two losses to Australia and Bangladesh, New Zealand could sneak into the last four, and likely finish second in the group to their trans-Tasman rivals.
The White Ferns face Sri Lanka on Monday morning (NZ time).
New Zealand 189/4 (Bates 81, Green 44 not out, Bezuidenhout 44; Khatun 2/36) Bangladesh 118/8 (Akter 31, Khatun 30; Carson 3/18, Rowe 2/15)
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