White Ferns vs Pakistan: Super Bates (1-0)
OG
Aotearoa's White Ferns started their ODI series against Pakistan with what is now becoming a typically dominant performance with bat and ball. Down in Lincoln, the Ferns bowled first and dismissed Pakistan for 156 off 49 overs before chasing 157 down while only losing 2 wickets, in 23 overs as they scooted along at 6.82rpo.
Lea Tahuhu and Holly Huddleston took the new-ball, with Morna Nielsen and 16-year-old Amelia Kerr given the spin duties. Young seamer Hannah Rowe also featured while Amy Satterthwaite was only required for one over with Suzie Bates not bowling herself - Sophie Devine was selected. Keep in mind that it's the last three ODI fixtures that count towards the ICC Women's Championship, so there's every chance that Devine will come into the team in place of Rowe or Kerr, depending on whether coach Haidee Tiffin prefers an extra spinner over a comprehensive seam attack.
This also applies to Rachel Priest, who wasn't selected as an opening batswomen/wicket-keeper. Priest and Devine would both feature in a full-strength White Ferns side and Katey Martin was given the keeping gloves, coming in to bat at No.4.
Kerr was the extra spinner in this first ODI and the youngster took her first wicket of what should be many, snaring Pakistan's skipper Sana Mir caught and bowled for 1 run. Kerr finished with 1/21 off 10 overs, conceding 2.10rpo with just the 1 wide, meaning that this borderline phenom looks to be settling into ODI cricket nicely.
Tahuhu was the pick of the kiwi bowlers though, taking 3/37 off 10 overs. Nielsen took 2/27 off her 10 overs while Huddleston, Rowe and Satterthwaitep picked up a wicket each. Tahuhu's 3 wickets included three of Pakistan's top five batswomen and along with Huddleston and Nielsen, they had Pakistan scrambling at 27/3.
One time for Amy Satterthwaite; she's coming off the South African series where she was the leading run-scorer and best bowler overall, here she took 1/1 off 1 over. Satterthwaite couldn't quite repeat the dose with the bat though as she as dismissed for 18 coming in at No.3.
Suzie Bates was the star with the bat - once again - as she smacked 64 off 46 balls in a 100-run partnership with Samantha Curtis. Curtis was left 55* as she steered the Ferns to victory after Bates' dismissal in the 14th over with Martin also left not-out on 13.
While Satterthwaite dominated the South African series, Bates played second-fiddle and wasn't quite at her best despite scoring two half-centuries. For Bates to start this series off in what must now be considered standard Bates style, is a great sign for the Ferns as she'll be eager to lead from the front with the bat, especially against a slightly weaker Pakistan side.
Curtis enjoyed a promotion up the order in place of Priest and this is yet another example of the fantastic options available to coach Tiffin. Priest can come back into the side, pushing Curtis back down the order and with Curtis scoring a 55* in this game, it makes it difficult to drop Curtis from the team for Priest or Devine. Curtis has shown that she can open, while Priest and Devine could both open as well and it's now a case of immense competition for spots bringing out the best in individuals and subsequently the team.
I do suspect we'll see Priest and Devine come back into this team in place of Kerr and Rowe, that's just my hunch.
Game two will take place in Lincoln tomorrow, before the series moves north to Nelson.