A top score of 65 for White Ferns skipper Suzie Bates was not enough against England in the first T20 international of the five-match series in Dunedin today, New Zealand losing by 27 runs.
Bates, resuming the captaincy in the absence of Amelia Kerr and Sophie Devine, was easily New Zealand’s best at a sunny University Oval.
Responding to England’s 160-4, New Zealand reached 133-5, with Bates out in the 17th over, her knock coming off 51 balls.
New Zealand were on target initially but struggled to hit the required boundaries in the middle and late stages of their reply.
It was always going to be a difficult task; had New Zealand reached England’s target it would have been a record run chase for womens’ T20 internationals here.
Expectations would already have been relatively low – at least from outside the squad, given the absence of Kerr and Devine, two of the White Ferns’ best and most experienced batters.
And New Zealand weren’t helped by a mixed effort in the field after winning the toss and electing to bowl.
Bates, Hannah Rowe and Maddy Green all dropped catches, with keeper Izzy Gaze missing a stumping chance after she fumbled the ball.
By contrast, England paced their innings well, skipper Heather Knight scoring 63 off 39 deliveries and Maia Bouchier 43 not out.
Jess Kerr was New Zealand’s best bowler with 1-26 off her four overs, her wicket that of Knight – a successful stumping by Gaze.
Overall, though, New Zealand bowled too short and wide and England took advantage. Lea Tahuhu’s final over went for 18.
In reply, opener Gaze was almost run out off the first ball she faced and the second of the innings, Tammy Beaumont missing when Gaze was halfway down the pitch. Gaze was out next ball when she hit Lauren Bell straight to the cover fielder.
Bates’ half century was her 28th in T20 internationals. She was playing in her 310th international – the second highest ever.
She looked good throughout, but the pressure was building from the halfway stage of New Zealand’s reply when they were 62-2 and requiring nearly 10 an over.
They needed 77 off the last six overs and while left hander Brooke Halliday hit a couple of boundaries when finishing unbeaten on 27, they didn’t get close.
The next game of the series is in Nelson on Friday.
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