The New Zealand Women’s Emerging Players team narrowly lost their warm up Twenty20 match against a New South Wales at Blacktown in Sydney.
NSW put on a challenging 155 for seven off their 20 overs with the Emerging Players falling 13 runs short.
Kate Blackwell’s 64 set up the total with Australian International Lisa Sthalekar chipping in with 30.
Left-arm spinner Morna Nielsen was the best of the Emerging Players bowlers with three for 24.
Francis McKay and Katey Martin got the run chase off to a good start, both making 36 before Amber Boyce come in an boomed 34 off just 18. Wickets and vital times cost New Zealand as they reached 142 for four.
Coach Gary Stead was pleased despite the loss, "It was an excellent hit out in very hot conditions against a very strong NSW team.
“This was the first time many of these young players had played against such a strong opposition and I was pleased with how they performed”
NSW 157/7 (Blackwell 64, Sthalekar 30; Nielsen 3/24, Evans 2/14) beat NZEP 142/2 (MacKay 36, Martin 36, Boyce 34)
The New Zealand Emerging Players will play three Twenty20 matches and two One-Day matches against the Australian Under 21 team.
Schedule:
Wednesday 16 December
Twenty20 at Blacktown Olympic Park 2 (2.15pm start)
Thursday 17 December
Twenty20 at Blacktown Olympic Park 2 (2.15pm start)
Friday 18 December
Twenty20 at Blacktown Olympic Park 2 (7.15pm start)
Sunday 20 December
1st ODI at Blacktown Olympic Park 2 (10.00am start)
Tuesday 22 December
2nd ODI at Blacktown Olympic Park (3.00pm start)
