Bates stars as New Zealand thrash Bangladesh by 71 runs

New Zealand’s Suzie Bates (R) plays a shot as Bangladesh’s wicketkeeper Shamima Sultana (L) looks on during the Group A T20 women’s World Cup cricket match between New Zealand and Bangladesh at Newlands Stadium in Cape Town on February 17, 2023.
| Photo Credit: Rodger Bosch

Star batter Suzie Bates top-scored with an unbeaten 61-ball 81 while batting through the innings to set up New Zealand’s 71-run mauling of Bangladesh in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup here on Friday.

Opting to bat first after winning the toss, New Zealand were well served by the opening duo of Bates and Bernadine Bezuidenhout as the two shared a partnership of 77 runs in only nine overs to set the foundation for a strong total. Wicketkeeper Bezuidenhout blazed away to 44 off 26 balls.

New Zealand ended their innings at a challenging 189 for three in the stipulated 20 overs at the Newlands.

In reply, Bangladesh were restricted to 118 for eight with Eden Carson (3/18) and Hannah Rowe (2/15) accounting for five wickets between themselves.

In the latter stages of the New Zealand innings, Maddy Green smashed an unbeaten 44 off just 20 balls to prop up her team while adding 82 runs in quick time with the seasoned Bates.

With her knock, Bates became the first batter to score 1000 runs in Women’s T20 World Cup.

Green found the fence seven times during her blistering knock, while Bates too hit as many boundaries besides striking one maximum.

The other opener, Bezuidenhout struck five boundaries.

Skipper Sophie Devine failed to open her account while Amelia Kerr made 16.

Bowling leg-spin, Fahima Khatun was the most successful bowler for Bangladesh, picking up two wickets for 36 in her full quota of four overs.

When their time to bat came, Bangladesh got off to a poor start and lost Shamima Sultana (14) with 19 runs on the board in the third over, the bowler being medium pacer Hannah Rowe.

Two overs later, Rowe struck again as she bowled Sobhana Mostary (4).

The early blows put Bangladesh on the back foot and they could not recover from that.

Shorna Akter (31), Murshida Khatun (30) and Shamima Sultana (14) were the only batters to reach double digits.