White Ferns x Women's World Cup: Game One vs Sri Lanka
Bank on Bates.
And just like that we've seen the star power of the White Ferns in their opening game of the Women's World Cup. Suzie Bates smoked a century and Amy Satterthwaite also passed 50, leading the Ferns to a 9-wicket win but the damage was largely done in how Aotearoa restricted Sri Lanka to 188/9 in their 50 overs.
Forget the star power and marvel at Holly Huddleston's MVP performance, which I feel rather cozy about after I told the Wildcard in our Niche Cast that Huddleston was the one White Ferns player to keep a close eye on. Taking 5/35 off 10 overs @ 3.50rpo is a reasonably handy way to start a World Cup, right?
Huddleston didn't take a wicket with the new-ball, yet she bounced back later in the innings where her variations proved too slick for the Sri Lankan batters, snaring the wicket of opener Chmarai Polgampola who was on 49 and had done a fine job of anchoring the innings. Huddleston had her caught-behind in the 38th over and Sri Lanka went from being 144/3 to 188/9 in 16 overs, largely thanks to Huddleston skittlin' her way through the lower order of Sri Lanka.
You've got to expect that from Huddleston though as she's running around with an ODI bowling average of 18.30 in 19 games and before joining Aotearoa to prepare for this World Cup, Huddleston took 2+ wickets in each of the three games she played for Middlesex Women. Going back to the Rose Bowl (vs Australia) in Aotearoa (Feb 26), Huddleston only gone wicket-less in one of her last nine games and in six of those nine games, Huddleston has taken 2+ wickets.
Lea Tahuhu (1/39 @ 4.33rpo), Sophie Devine (1/31 @ 5.16rpo) and Amelia Kerr (1/13 @2.60rpo) also chipped in with wickets. Kerr's inclusion over Leigh Kasperek was a bit of a surprise and while I still think that Kasperek will feature in a strongest White Ferns team, I've also got to give Kerr the benefit of the doubt; Kerr may just be better. That'll be a narrative to keep tabs on and this doesn't just apply to Kerr and Kasperek as Anne Peterson and Erin Bermingham also dabble in spin, while the off-spinning presence of Satterthwaite would surely be a factor as well.
Satterthwaite bowled 8 overs (@ 2.62rpo) and only the seaming combo of Tahuhu (9 overs) and Huddleston (10) bowled more overs than Satterthwaite. If Satterthwaite is going to bowl close to 10 overs most games, the need to play Kasperek decreases and Satterthwaite's consistency opens the door for a more attacking spinner such as Kerr.
The run-chase consisted of Bates hitting 106* off 109 balls and Satterthwaite hitting 78* off 103 balls. Rachel Priest was dismissed in the 6th over for 2 and while it's impressive to see Huddleston start her World Cup campaign in sizzling hot form, there's no better sight for kiwi cricket fans than Bates and Satterthwaite scoring runs.
These two sent a warning shot to the rest of the competition and as I'm happy to label Aotearoa as favourites for this World Cup, I'm more than happy to state that Bates and Satterthwaite are the best batswomen at this World Cup.
Pakistan face South Africa tonight and Aotearoa will then play against South Africa Wednesday night, so the Ferns will get a good look at South Africa. We'll touch base after that game and in the meantime, simply saviour a White Ferns performance that gave us a taste of what this team is capable of.
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