Day 4 Talking Points CWC22: Bates brings up milestone in style to overcome NZ's nervous start

New Zealand v Bangladesh

University Oval, Dunedin - 7 March 2022

MATCH CENTRE | MATCH REPORT

New Zealand arrived for the clash with Bangladesh wanting to win at least four of their six remaining group matches to be confident of progressing to the semi-finals.

But as the Dunedin skies opened up and the clouds hung around through the morning, it appeared as though the hosts would miss out on an opportunity to register the first of those much-needed victories today.

The White Ferns’ nerves wouldn’t have settled much once play did start as Bangladesh raced to 59 without loss, but they gradually fought their way back into the match to restrict Bangladesh to 140/8 and ultimately get their campaign back on track.

Bangladesh posted a competitive first innings total of 140/8 from 27 overs but it might have been much more if not for some costly lapses in concentration.

The first of these blunders came from Fargana Hoque who had worked hard to pull together 52 runs off 63 balls despite hitting only one boundary.

Hoque comfortably played a delivery straight back to Frances Mackay but took too long to respond when the quick-thinking bowler threw down the opening batter’s stumps with a direct hit.

Salma Khatun later lacked enough urgency when running between wickets and was run out despite a loopy throw from Bates, while Jahanara Alam paid the same price when failing to pay attention to a fast and flat throw from Amelia Kerr in the outfield.

The World Cup debutants would’ve learned a valuable lesson about staying in the game at all times when playing at the elite level.

The experienced opener became just the sixth player to reach 1,000 runs in ICC Women’s World Cups when she passed 73 runs against Bangladesh.

Bates brought up the milestone in style as she carried her bat through the innings and plundered 79 runs from 68 balls with eight boundaries to earn a much-deserved Player of the Match award.

Tougher tests await but Bates proved again that she is crucial to New Zealand’s chances of winning the World Cup on home soil, steering her side to victory along with young gun Amelia Kerr (47 not out) after captain Sophie Devine fell cheaply.