WHITE FERNS hit the ground running

WT20 MATCH ONE: New Zealand WHITE FERNS defeated Sri Lanka by seven wickets at Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium, Delhi

Sri Lanka 110-8, 20 overs (Yasoda Mendis 30, Dilani Manodara 37, Leigh Kasperek 2-19)
New Zealand 111-3, 15.5 overs (Suzie Bates 37, Rachel Priest 28, Sara McGlashan 21 not out)

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It was a perfect start for both the WHITE FERNS and BLACKCAPS overnight in India as captain Suzie Bates hit the ground running and led the team to a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in Delhi.

Bates was named player of the match after helping secure a moderate chase of 111 with a run-a-ball 37 in the New Zealanders’ opening fixture at the Women's ICC Twenty20 2016 at Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium.

Despite losing the toss, the WHITE FERNS coasted to victory with a buffer of 4.1 overs and seven wickets to spare, after earlier having got on top of a good start from Sri Lanka to restrict them to 110/8, after opposition captain Shashikala Siriwardena had opted to bat. 

Pace bowler Lea Tahuhu rips one through Kaushalya

Bates poured on a clinical 64 for the first wicket in reply with Rachel Priest (28 off 26), while Sara McGlashan's 14-ball blitz for an unbeaten 21 made sure of an unbroken winning record against Sri Lanka in the T20 format. 

Form spinner Leigh Kasperek (2-19) was the leading wicket-taker in a good team effort with the ball and in the field, but the first phase of match wasn’t without its challenges for the highly rated New Zealanders. 

Exciting form: spinner Leigh Kasperek is on a roll

Sri Lanka had made their handy start thanks to opener Yasoda Mendis, who put on 19 for the first wicket with Chamari Atthapatthu, and dangerous first drop Dilani Manodara who added a further 43 for the second wicket after Atthapatthu was bowled by Leigh Kasperek.

However, from a solid platform of 82/2 in the 13th over, her wicket triggered a fatal landslide as Sri Lanka proceeded to lose six wickets for just 23 runs in the final six overs to crumble to 110 for eight at the finish, the WHITE FERNS claiming three slick run outs.

WHITE FERNS coach Haidee Tiffen

“It is really pleasing to get the first win,” said Bates afterwards. “And the way we came back after Sri Lanka had put us under pressure in its innings was very good.”

The WHITE FERNS now head to Mohali for their second Pool match, against Ireland at 11pm NZT on Friday, at Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali.

 “Every game is like a final for us and we will prepare well for it,” said Bates.

  Images: ICC/Getty