Hometown hero Bates guides New Zealand to a comfortable victory against Bangladesh

Kalyani Mangale

07 Mar 2022 00:00 IST

New Update

Hometown hero Bates guides New Zealand to a comfortable victory against Bangladesh — Amy Satterthwaite and Suzie Bates © Getty Images

A rain-affected match was reduced to 27 overs with five overs allotted to the powerplay. With a wet outfield awaiting them, Fargana Hoque, promoted to open that batting, started the proceedings with a pull shot timed to perfection. Shamima Sultana found her groove in the next over and creamed a Jess Kerr delivery through point. Lea Tahuhu made changes to her length but Shamima was up for the challenge and amassed two boundaries from the third over. In stark contrast to their match against South Africa, Bangladesh improved their scoring rate and by the end of the powerplay, they were 41 for no loss.

Devine introduced her trump card, Amelia Kerr, in the seventh over, but the Shamima-Hoque duo gave Bangladesh their second consecutive partnership of 50 runs. The introduction of spin slowed the run rate and the dot ball pressure resulted in the wicket of Shamima for 33. Frances Mackay, playing her first World Cup match since February 2013, secured the breakthrough for New Zealand in the 10th over.

Also Read Old Suzie’s shouldering the job as New Zealand finally have their A team together

Satterthwaite was introduced in the 15th over and she struck a double blow in her opening over to reduce Bangladesh to 81 for three, sending captain Nigar Sultana and Rumana Ahmed back. Hoque and Sobhana Mostary tried to revive the innings with a partnership of 27, but that joy didn’t last long. Hayley Jensen broke the partnership with Maddy Green taking an easy catch. Hoque continued her counter-attack as she became the first Bangladesh player to score a half-century in the World Cup.

Mackay’s quick throw to the wicketkeeper ended Hoque’s fighting innings with five overs still remaining in the first innings. Bangladesh lost two more wickets to a run-out, trying to make the most of the spread out field in the death overs. In their first-ever ODI against the hosts, Bangladesh scored 140 for eight. Satterthwaite was the pick of the bowlers as she took three wickets while giving away just 25 runs in five overs.

In reply, captain Devine and Suzie Bates, playing her first game ever at her home ground, took the hosts to a breezy start in the powerplay. Former captain Salma Khatun broke the partnership of 36 runs when Devine was early to play the cut shot. Amelia walked in at three, with New Zealand needed 105 off 20 overs. She began patiently against Bangladesh’s spin bowler Nahida Akter.

Also Read: I will always play for my team and for my nation: Jahanara Alam

From then on, Bates and Amelia took on the relatively inexperienced Bangladeshi bowling attack. Amelia took care of the full-tosses offered by the bowlers to initially settle down and later stamp her authority against them. Bates reached her half-century in the 16th over, taking New Zealand close to their first victory of the tournament. Shamima missed an easy stumping when Bates was on 58 off the bowling of Akter. That didn't deter the pair, who added 100 runs to the second wicket.

Bates brought up 1000 runs in the World Cup, and became the second New Zealand player to do so after Debbie Hockley. She then got the perfect ending when she guided a yorker-length delivery from Akter behind point to seal the victory for New Zealand.

Brief Score:
Bangladesh: 140/8 in 27 Overs (Fargana Hoque 52, Shamima Sultana 33; Amy Satterthwaite 3/25) lost to New Zealand: 144/1 in 20 Overs (Suzie Bates 79*, Amelia Kerr 47*; Salma Katun 1/34) by nine wickets

Bangladesh New Zealand Suzie Bates Amy Satterthwaite Fargana Hoque ICC Cricket World Cup, 2022 ICC Cricket World Cup #CWC22