Bates Makes History As New Zealand Take Series

Bates Makes History As New Zealand Take Series

Suzie Bates made history by featuring in her third century stand in Twenty20 International cricket

©REUTERS / Action Images

New Zealand Women 136-3 (Bates 67) beat
Australia Women 134-5 by seven wickets
Third Twenty20 International, St Kilda
Scorecard

New Zealand Women gave themselves a boost ahead of the World Cup with a seven-wicket win in the decisive third Twenty20 International against Australia Women in St Kilda.

Captain Suzie Bates continued her outstanding form with an innings of 67 as the White Ferns chased down a target of 135 with 11 balls to spare, claiming a 2-1 series victory in the process.

Australia had managed to post 134 for five thanks to Jess Cameron's 48 and Lisa Sthalekar's unbeaten 24.

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Australia, batting first, shuffled their order with Elyse Villani opening with Alyssa Healy, the former making 20 but the latter just one.

Cameron then needed just 36 balls to score her runs, hitting four fours and two sixes but despite Sthalekar's late flurry of runs, they closed short of the 145-mark which would have offered New Zealand more of a challenge.

There was a wicket apiece for Morna Nielsen, Lea Tahuhu, Amy Satterthwaite, Frances Mackay and Lucy Doolan.

Doolan (35 in 40 balls) and Bates (67 in 44) then set about giving their side a winning platform with a 101-run partnership for the first wicket - just the third partnership of 100 or more for New Zealand in Twenty20 International cricket, and all of them have been shared with Bates.

She became the first player to feature in three century partnerships, leaving Charlotte Edwards, Stacy-Ann King, Meg Lanning, Laura Marsh and Sarah Taylor behind on two apiece.

She was finally dismissed by Ellyse Perry and when Doolan fell soon after, New Zealand were 108 for two, but thanks to Satterthwaite (10), Sophie Devine (12 not out) and Sara McGlashan (4 not out), they got home with time to spare.

© Cricket World 2013