The rest of the WHITE FERNS are thoroughly enjoying sitting back to watch the Amy Satterthwaite/Katey Martin show.
While white hot first drop Satterthwaite is busy crushing all sorts of milestones for the sheer volume of runs in a series and in a year, Martin — recalled for the recent trip to South Africa — has really seized her chance to bat at four. In cracking touch, the one-time keeper has, after 47 ODI appearances heading into this Series, suddenly now rolled out four from her last five games!
KATEY MARTIN v Pakistan, 2016
ODIs: 3
Runs: 128
Half Centuries: 2
Average: 128.00
Strike rate: 97.70
Katey Martin sweeps. Image: Photosport
AMY SATTERTHWAITE v Pakistan, 2016
ODIs: 3
Runs: 270
Centuries: 2
Average: 270.00
Strike rate: 116.37
Amy Satterthwaite completing another run. Image: Photosport
AMY SATTERTHWAITE / KATEY MARTIN partnerships v Pakistan, 2016
ODI 2 — 150 for the third wicket
ODI 3 — 105 runs unbroken for the third wicket
Captain Suzie Bates — who has been no slouch herself, with 170 runs at 56.66 so far in this Series, meanwhile combined with Sam Curtis in the opening ODI to get the Series off to a power start. So there’s been plenty of good news to report from the batting department as the team moves to Nelson for the final two IWC ODIs, starting this Thursday, plus a Twenty20 International — all at Saxton Oval.
The WHITE FERNS celebrate a wicket. Image: Photosport
Grabbing a chance to open at international level before Rachel Priest came back in for the following two games, Curtis cracked her maiden fifty for the WHITE FERNS in game one and says it’s been brilliant watching the top five batters — in various combinations, as coach Haidee Tiffen prepares the options for next year’s World Cup — doing their job every match.
“I was down in the middle order in South Africa, and I’m glad I took the opportunity at the top in our first match here,” says Curtis. “It was nice to get that maiden fifty. I was trying to tick it over every ball and let the other person at the other end play their big shots… and Suzie was in her beast mode. It’s pretty fun to watch that out there! I was happy nudging it, then just watched her send it sailing over the fielders’ heads!”
Curtis, who’s a Tauranga lawyer away from the field, excels in breaking down her game into simple, workable strategies.
“A lot for me is just my mindset — being positive. Just keep it going. And, the big focus for our batting unit overall is partnerships. Whether you’re batting one or 11, it’s about trying to create those partnerships, all the way. Whenever a wicket falls, you’ve just got to start again.”
So far, so good then, judging by the numbers going up on the board, game after game. Even when presented with a strong challenge in the third match at Lincoln, the WHITE FERNS’ top four looked composed and organised as they chased down Pakistan’s 263/6 with eight wickets in hand.
Later that night, the team was still at their Lincoln accommodation when they experienced the Kaikoura earthquake, and thoughts of the entire squad have been with those affected further up the island. Coincidentally, the WHITE FERNS had also been together in Christchurch when the first of the major Canterbury quakes hit in 2011 — to be exact, in the lobby of their hotel on Cathedral Square, getting ready to load into the team van when that quake hit. The empathy is deeply felt.
Samantha Curtis.
Now, however, it’s hello to Nelson, and a goal of claiming the IWC points games 3-0 — the team having already taken an unassailable 3-0 lead in the overall five-match ODI Series, including the first of the three key IWC points games.
“It’s been really important that we stick to our recovery routines with the play/train/play/train/play/train schedule we had in the first week,” says Curtis. “And it was good that we have had a few days now between the Lincoln and Nelson games. But the work doesn’t stop, we just stay positive from match to match.”
WHITE FERNS v Pakistan in Nelson — all matches are FREE entry at Saxton Oval
ODI 4 — this Thursday 17 November from 11am
ODI 5 — Saturday 19 November from 11am
T20 Inernational— Monday 21 November from 3pm
