The White Ferns’ disappointing Women’s Cricket World Cup campaign has ended with some late fireworks.
New Zealand won their final round-robin match against Pakistan by 71 runs at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval on Saturday, but have effectively been eliminated from the semifinals.
Led by a 12th ODI century from opener Suzie Bates and impressive bowling from seamer Hannah Rowe, who took career-best figures of 5-55, the White Ferns saved some of their best cricket for last.
Their six points could yet leave them level with both England and India, if those teams lose their final matches, but they would need both those defeats to be extremely heavy (by greater than 200 runs, or at rapid speed after taking 10 wickets) to make the semifinals on net run rate.
Played in front of nearly 4000 fans at a sun-drenched Hagley with restrictions around outdoor crowds lifting, the White Ferns finished a tournament, where they underperformed on home soil, on a positive note.
Bates anchored New Zealand’s total of 265-8, registering her 12th ODI century and fourth World Cup ton, hitting 126 from 135 balls.
She wrote herself into the women’s ODI record books becoming the first New Zealander to score 5000 career runs. She became just the fourth player in history, joining India’s Mithali Raj (7737), England’s Charlotte Edwards (5992), and West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor (5250).
Clapped on at the ground by New Zealand Cricket president and White Ferns’ great Debbie Hockley, it was an emotional moment as Bates achieved the milestone.
Chasing 266 to win their second match of the tournament, Pakistan were in the contest with skipper Bismah Maroof and Nida Dar combining well together and set at the crease. Their 82-run fourth wicket stand was broken after Bismah was caught behind down the leg side off Rowe.
The on-field decision was not out, but wicketkeeper Katey Martin and captain Sophie Devine reviewed the call, which was overturned and given out.
Rowe struck again in her next over with Aliya Riaz departing for one and New Zealand were back in charge of the match.
Had it not been for a last second review, Bates could have been back in the pavilion for 17.
She was given out lbw on-field from the bowling of Diana Baig, but opted to review the decision with one second remaining. It proved the right call with DRS (Decision Review System) showing the ball was missing and going down leg.
By her own high standards, it hadn’t been a great World Cup with the bat for Bates before Saturday.
She had scored just 129 runs in her previous six innings at an average of 25.8. Outside of an unbeaten 79 against Bangladesh in the White Ferns’ second match, she had produced four scores of less than 20.
It was a frustrating batting performance from the White Ferns for the most part. They were able to post their highest score of the tournament thanks to a late cameo from Martin, in possibly the last ODI of her 19-year New Zealand career, and Frankie Mackay.
The duo proved pesky for Pakistan, scoring 32 runs from the last two overs and 18 off the last to get New Zealand through to a respectable score.
New Zealand’s batting effort was a microcosm of their tournament.
Once again, they let themselves down losing wickets at key stages when they were building promising partnerships.
It looked like the White Ferns might fall well short of where they should have been. They slipped from 145-3 after 30 overs, then 197-4 after 40, to 231-8 in the 47th over.
There was some silly running between the wickets late in the innings with Jess Kerr and Rowe both run out recklessly.
Share on Facebook «||» Share on Twitter «||» Share on Reddit «||» Share on LinkedIn