White Ferns In England: T20 Tri-Series Update
Aotearoa's White Ferns are currently in England, in the midst of a T20 tri-series with England and South Africa. You may not have known that, but you would have probably have known that the White Ferns played a few games against Ireland, in Ireland prior to popping into England. Records were smashed by the White Ferns and numerous individuals, performances that captured the attention of the casual kiwi sports fan and cricket fans around the world.
Mad respect to Ireland and the efforts of our kiwi cricketers against Ireland, the England leg of this tour is of far greater intrigue. You can froth and the various numbers from the Ireland series, of course we should celebrate the work of our White Ferns in dismantling Ireland, the only numers you really need to know however are; 10-wicket win in the T20 and three ODI wins by more than 300 runs in each ODI (346 runs, 306 and 305).
In other words, that series wasn't overly competitive and you'd be filthy if you didn't go large with runs or wickets, or both. Moving to England has offered a stiffer challenge as the Ferns are 1-1 so far in the T20 tri-series, beating South Africa and losing to England.
Against South Africa, the OGs led the way with Suzie Bates hitting 124* off 66 balls (187.87sr) and Sophie Devine chiming in with 73 off 48 (152.08sr). Aotearoa reached 261/1 off their 20 overs and then restricted South Africa to 150/6 from their 20 overs, with Hayley Jensen taking 3w @ 7rpo in her 4 overs.
England presented a far stiffer challenge and batting first, they made 172/8 in 20 overs. Offie Leigh Kasperek took 3w @ 8.75rpo and Devine took 2w @ 10.50rpo, before the Ferns were rolled for 118 in 18.3 overs.
Easy wins gave coach Haidee Tiffen a chance to roll out funky, like excessively funky, battine line-ups vs Ireland. Normal service has resumed though in England with Tiffin settling Devine, Bates, Katey Martin, Amy Satterthwaite, Maddie Green and Amelia Kerr as the top-six.
The only change in the playing 11 between the first two games was Hannah Rowe being replaced by Bernadine Bezuidenhout. Rowe's primarily a seamer and she conceded 14 runs off 1 over in the first game, Tiffen must have decided to bolster the batting by adding Bezuidenhout. Martin was the wicket-keeper in both games, but Bezuidenhout is also a wicket-keeper/batswoman and despite adding Bezuidenhout to the middle order, nothing was lost in the bowling department as seven different bowlers were used vs England. Seven bowlers were also used vs South Africa, Bates replaced Rowe in the bowling unit.
Bates continues to be amazing; since arriving in England in May to play for Hampshire, Bates has hit three centuries in 7inns. Bates hit a century for Hampshire in a 50-over game, before an ODI century vs Ireland and the T20 century vs South Africa. Bates has had four 50+ scores in those 7inns.
Kasperek has also been prolific since arriving in England, playing a bunch of 50-over games for Yorkshire before the Ireland series. Kasperek took 9w in 4inns for Yorkshire (2, 1, 3, 3) and in her last 10inns, Kasperek has gone wicket-less just once and taken 2+ wickets in 7 of those 10inns.
Kerr grabbed all the headlines from the Ireland series, since then though she hasn't quite kicked on against better opposition. Kerr's only had the single innings with the bat, scoring 2 off 4 balls and is wicket-less from the first two T20s; she was the most economical Ferns bowler vs South Africa though.
With plenty of buzz zoned in on Kerr's all-round abilities, she has batted #6 in both games of the tri-series and how Kerr goes in the middle order will be a narrative I'll keep tabs on. There's so much batting prowess up top that the middle order don't get as many opportunities as other teams and Kerr will have more attention on her from opposition bowlers.
Aotearoa now play a double-header on Friday NZT, offering even more intrigue as to how Tiffen juggles her team for the back to back effort.
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Peace and love 27.