Bates Leads New Zealand To A Series-Levelling Win

Bates Leads New Zealand To A Series-Levelling Win

Suzie Bates took three wickets and then hit an unbeaten 75 to guide New Zealand to victory

©Action Images / Paul Harding Livepic

New Zealand Women 211-6 (Bates 75no, Marsh 3-34) beat
England Women 208-9 (C Taylor 66, Greenway 40) by four wickets
Second One-Day International, Taunton
Scorecard

Suzie Bates scored an unbeaten half-century to guide New Zealand Women to a four-wicket win over England Women that levelled the five-match series 1-1 after a closely-fought second One-Day International at Taunton.

A welcome return to form for England's Claire Taylor saw her make 66 as England posted 208 for nine before Bates continued her impressive tour with an unbeaten 75 as the White Ferns tasted victory with more than two overs to spare.

Taylor faced 87 balls to prop up England's score after the opening partnership of Sarah Taylor (25) and Heather Knight (19) reached 42 before England lost two wickets for five runs.

A rare failure for Charlotte Edwards, who made five, forced Taylor to take on the rebuilding job and along with Lydia Greenway, who made 40, she put on 79 for the fourth wicket, which came when Greenway was run out and Taylor was dismissed by the same method to leave England struggling.

Jenny Gunn hit a quickfire 23 before Bates returned three for 25 to keep England to a manageable total while debutante Erin Bermingham, by virtue of removing both openers, took two for 41.

In reply, New Zealand's openers performed similarly to England's as Lucy Doolan (24) and Maria Fahey (12) both made starts before it was left to Bates, at number three, and the rest of the team to lead the charge.

Bates hit seven fours in her 107-ball knock and despite England removing Amy Satterthwaite (6), Sara McGlashan (28), Sophie Devine (23) and Nicola Browne (18), their inability to remove Bates cost them dear.

Captain Aimee Watkins helped Bates finish off the match with an unbeaten eight as Laura Marsh's three for 34 and Danielle Hazell's two for 38 proved to be in vain.

England captain Edwards pointed to a shortage of runs as a key reason for her side's defeat.

"We were 20 or 30 runs short with the bat, despite Claire Taylor and Lydia Greenway’s good performance," she said. "We bowled well, but missed too many run-outs, which cost us in the end. It’s one apiece, so we will look towards the next game at Derby now."

The two sides move to Derby on Thursday (15th July) for the third match.

© Cricket World 2010

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