The WHITE FERNS have dominated their final ICC Women’s T20 World Cup warm-up match against Thailand, winning by 81 runs at Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide.
Wicket-keeper batter Rachel Priest took over the captaincy duties with Sophie Devine resting, Priest losing the toss and being asked to bat first.
TOSS NEWS: Thailand have won it and elected to bowl first 👀 Have a peep at the team sheets for a few changes including a new skipper today @rachelpriest13 👏🏽#withthewhiteferns #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/7zpDPesvcQ
— WHITE FERNS (@WHITE_FERNS) February 18, 2020
Priest (15) along with Maddy Green (34) put on a rapid-fire 48 runs for the first wicket before Suzie Bates (78) and Melie Kerr (54) took over.
Bates and Kerr batted for the majority of the WHITE FERNS innings; their partnership worth 126 runs as the Kiwis posted 194/4 from their 20 overs.
STRONG SHOWING WITH THE BAT! We post 194/4 from our 20 overs...
— WHITE FERNS (@WHITE_FERNS) February 19, 2020
1️⃣2️⃣6️⃣ run partnership
5️⃣4️⃣ Kerr
7️⃣8️⃣ Bates
🇳🇿 CARD | https://t.co/5OFtCMKHZt#withthewhiteferns #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/zu1uvibZ70
Kerr showed poise at the crease with an occasional notch of power, her innings including eight boundaries.
Bates batted an hour in an innings that included eight boundaries and two sixes, her 78 runs coming from just 47 deliveries.
The Thailand batting effort didn’t start well, Leigh Kasperek with the perfect opening over claiming a double-wicket maiden.
DOUBLE WICKET maiden in the opening over from Leigh Kasperek!
— WHITE FERNS (@WHITE_FERNS) February 19, 2020
Great start!
🇹🇭 CARD | https://t.co/5OFtCMKHZt#withthewhiteferns #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/ZnkHW3UBYx
The innings never really recovered from that point, top order wickets to Kerr and Holly Huddleston kept scoring in check.
Maddy Green claimed a wicket from her solitary over, before Huddleston returned to claim a further two wickets.
Well deserved win in the warm-up fixture vs Thailand. A good final hit out before the @T20WorldCup starts proper 👏🏽
— WHITE FERNS (@WHITE_FERNS) February 19, 2020
🏏 CARD | https://t.co/5OFtCMt6AT#withthewhiteferns #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/n3pW5ng7tJ
Kasperek (3-9) was the pick of the WHITE FERNS bowling, an all-round effort from the Kiwis before they head to Perth for their opening ICC Women’s T20 World Cup fixture against Sri Lanka.
The spirit of cricket in full swing post-match at Karen Rolton Oval 🏏 #withthewhiteferns #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/pI9a3o1vuA
— WHITE FERNS (@WHITE_FERNS) February 19, 2020
Getting into the rhythm of the @T20WorldCup 🥁#withthewhiteferns #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/Z6h2TZpe8x
— WHITE FERNS (@WHITE_FERNS) February 19, 2020
