7 March - Dunedin - New Zealand player Suzie Bates post-match press conference

Reporter: Suzie I know what it means to be here – how are you feeling right now?

Suzie: Yeah just a big shocked really – yesterday beautiful standard day, sort of went to bed thinking that it was going to clear and we just stayed at the hotel - Bob messaged us and told us to sit tight and it was the longest, I guess four or five hours at home - I didn’t want to look outside and just really was desperate for us to get a game on and then we sort of turned up and it didn't look that hopeful. And next minute we're warming up so yeah - so a bit of a blur thinking we were going to play a smaller innings for that to happen and be out there to finish it off.

Reporter: Well done and you brought up 1000 rounds in the World Cup during the innings with a blazing cover drive – were you aware you're approaching a milestone?

Suzie: Now I sort of had no idea. I've played in four World Cups now but yeah, I guess it's not a step that I've taken notice of that, I do feel like it will cut time that’s really important when I opened the batting to score runs for my team, so just pleased we could get a decent score.

Reporter: You were put in a lot of different pressure out there today because it was gloomy, the light was poor -there was drizzle around - in any stage that wanted to come out of the pocket. Did you feel that pressure out there -?

Suzie: Yeah, it was to be honest looking at that Duckworth Lewis quite a bit because the drizzle just sort of hung around and it was getting darker and it was actually quite a good gauge for me Amelia and I to stick with - I sort of if we were above that that Duckworth Lewis run rate and we only were one wicket down, so it was a good place to be - so sort of talked about just getting to the 20th over and make sure we made a game, so if they skies could open up at any point, but thankfully Dunedin held off.

Reporter: The bowling to begin with, wasn't so of fresh, bit of loose stuff there. What was going on in the end , did it help when you took the pace out again?

Suzie: Yeah, okay. I'm not sure what was going on near, we didn't hit our lengths and the bowlers knew that they had to be fuller at the start, but I think maybe just a little bit of confidence in the run up. Perhaps they weren't quite getting their footing and so we were missing short, but I thought Sophie did a great job at keeping us calm after not an ideal start and then Amy Satterthwaite bowled for the White Fins came on and she and Frankie really I guess controlled their batting innings and kept us in the game.

Reporter: The heartbreaking loss in the opening game – did it feel like you guys can take some confidence going forward from your batting display out here?

Suzie: Yeah I think any game you win a World Cup gives you confidence, but I think it was just the nature that we play under - you know, sitting at the hotel thinking that we might not have been playing and the way we just turned up and got the job done. And there was some real pressure out there - like you said the way we started with the ball and they started with the bat and even when we lost Sophie - there the game wasn’t on the balance - so I think the more we can absorb games, the more we're going to learn moving on into the tournament.

Reporter: Just one more – was there any families up there in the stands? Do you want to announce name?

Suzie: Head of the Sparks cheering squad and it was nice to see those girls because we haven't seen them since they won the title but yeah, I had mum and dad and my sister Olivia there, so they were on the WhatsApp this morning not helping my mood - texting about the weather, they were not helpful, so I think they were relieved that they finally got to watch me play for New Zealand although they've watched me a lot pay for the title.

Reporter: Congratulations. I wanted to know what it means to you to join - Debbie Hockley is only the second New Zealand woman to score 1000 runs in a World Cup and what it means for you to have her watching on from the commentary box today?

Suzie: Yeah, I didn't actually realize that - I should perhaps be more into the stats. But yeah, Debbie Hockley is an absolute legend and she has set all the records previously - so to join her is pretty special and she's such a huge fan of the White Fins - so nice for her to be there as well. And yes, she was a huge inspiration for all of us growing up and being a part of that 2000 winning World Cup and she set the standard with the amount of runs she scored for New Zealand.

Reporter: Obviously, you've talked there about her being an inspiration with the White Fins. It's International Women's Day tomorrow, So I just wondered if you could talk about some of the female role models you've had in your life and in your sporting career?

Suzie: Yeah, I guess playing in Dunedin I've been really fortunate with the people I've had around me and I guess sticking with cricket - [inaudible 05:44] I think was actually watching today - and she was my first ever captain and she was a real inspiration for me about you know how to lead from the front and so she was someone that was pretty special, but I think that whole White Fins team in 2000. Debbie Hockley in particular inspired me to want to be a White Fin - so it's really special to have a World Cup at home I guess 22 years later.

Reporter: Congrats on the records and milestones and playing at your home ground. Just talk to us about the feeling you had when you walked out to bat given you've had to wait a long time in your career to you know, play for New Zealand at this venue but also the fact that you had to wait so long earlier today - just were there the feeling that you know, I've come so far but I might not get to bat at this venue - did that thought crossed your mind, what was going through when you came out to bat?

Suzie: Yeah, it was a strange day. When I got out on the field. I was just fully focused on doing my best job and hoping the rain stayed away and then as soon as the innings finished I realized it was going to be a quick turnaround and I also knew there was going to be extra nerves and anxiety around first and foremost, being at home and just the way the day panned out so I made sure I got off the field quickly and just took some time to reset and go through my same routine that I've done over the season whether it's playing for the State or for playing in a World Cup game - so I did take an extra bit of time so I wasn't too overwhelmed when I got out there but as soon as I faced that first ball, it just felt like home and I knew it was a good wicket as it has been all season.

Reporter: Congrats on win today and crossing the 1000 runs. So Debbie's on top of the list of players who have scored the most runs in World Cups but among like the players who have got 1000 runs your average is actually the best - of those six people. It's a very elite list – so just your thoughts on that achievement and your experience at the numerous ODI World Cups you've been to over the years.

Suzie: Yeah, I guess a little bit overwhelmed and it's been one of those days was unaware of all of these stat but I guess I have played in four World Cups and I've prided myself on making sure I've been informed for those tournament's and when I was Captain it was really important that I led from the front in terms of runs at top of the order and now I'm in the batting - just making sure that every game I'm contributing so I guess that’s a sign that I have done that in World Cups but there's a long way to go in this tournament. So I'd really like to make even more contributions. So right now - Yeah, it doesn't mean that much to be honest. It's more about making sure I can keep in good form for the rest of the tournament.

Frankie Mackay - playing her first World Cup match since 2013 came back and had an absolute impact since the first ball of the match – you have played with and against her in these years. Just a little bit about -on her.

Suzie: Yeah, from Dunedin - Yeah, so the way Bangladesh started with the bat really put us under pressure and you know, knowing how the day panned out and they were put in to bat, how aggressive they were in that path, they really put us under the pump- so great to see them play with that intent. I'm sure they're going to upset my team at some stage in this tournament. They had a really good game in South Africa. So yeah, really impressed with how they bettered on that wicket, not knowing the conditions and how the nature it is of some of our fastballers - they sort of just smashed them around the ground.

Reporter: Yes, Susie, I wanted to know the build up to your first day game at home - because last year New Zealand played in Dunedin- and you couldn't be a part of it. You were rehabbing. And you were in fact part of the commentary panel if I remember right, so how was that built up being your first ODI in Dunedin?

Suzie: It's been a long build up. I was actually part of the squad when we were supposed to play South Africa here a few years ago and that day it rained all day and everyone gave Dunedin a lot of stick about the weather. So that was pretty upsetting. And then we had two games against England and then I just had shoulder surgery, so it wasn't a part of that. So it has been a long time coming. Everyone's talked about it. I was trying not to talk about it too much. And then today when it rained I'd really wanted to just hide under the covers until the sun came out, and then we got some cricket - so it has been a massive build up and I'm just relieved I've got a game out there and we got a win as well.

Reporter: I just wanted to ask what do you make of Bangladesh - this is their first ODI tournament and being a senior player, what would be your advice to them going forward?

Suzie: Yeah, actually correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it's the first time the White Fins have played Bangladesh in a 50 over match. So that's unbelievable - really the quality of team that they are so yeah, they've got some handy top batters who give it a good whack. I thought their spin bowlers in particular bowled extremely well and they're very competitive. They stand the fight and you hear them when you're out in the middle - so they really put pressure on you but just keep doing what they're doing – they're a quality side and they've got a really nice balanced bowling lineup. So sure, you know, we're going to play then many more times in the future. If I'm still around.

Reporter: Thank you.