Women CWC: Suzie Bates’ century helps New Zealand win over Pakistan

Suzie Bates’ blistering century helped New Zealand defeat Pakistan by 71 runs in the Women’s Cricket World Cup in Christchurch on Saturday.

It was the final match of the tournament for both sides, and despite the fact that New Zealand has a mathematical possibility of reaching the semi-finals, skipper Sophie Devine said it was a “bittersweet” triumph to leave on.

“Absolutely, we’re gutted that we’re not moving forward in this tournament and I want to wish those teams that do manage to go through all the best,” she said.

The tournament hosts posted 266 for eight with Bates scoring 126 before Hannah Rowe took five for 55 to restrict Pakistan to 194 for nine.

It moved New Zealand into a tie for fourth place with England and India, who both have a better run rate and a game in hand, putting them in a position to overtake third-placed West Indies, who are one point ahead but have finished their matches.

Bates contributed nearly half of New Zealand’s total at a busy Hagley Oval on New Zealand’s first day without Covid-enforced outdoor fan restrictions, becoming only the fourth player in women’s cricket to surpass 5,000 ODI runs.

Bates also became the first person to score a century in four consecutive World Cup competitions, but she felt Rowe should have received the player-of-the-match award.

“I just really wanted to take the game deep and make sure we finished off the 50 overs and got a good score on the board,” she said.

“It’s a nice record to have but I thought Hannah Rowe, I could share this player of the match with because she bowled outstandingly.”

Bates was given out lbw on 17 and deliberated on the dismissal until the final second before seeking a review which confirmed the ball was missing leg-stump.

When the opener was eventually dismissed, bowled by Nashra Sandhu in the 43rd over, she received a standing ovation as she walked from the field and New Zealand were well placed at 211 for five with more than seven overs remaining.

Instead of New Zealand driving the run rate higher, Pakistan gained control with four wickets for 20 runs before Katey Martin and Frankie Mackay combined for 32 runs in the final two overs.

Martin finished the match unbeaten on 30, scoring 22 runs off eight deliveries in the last flurry.

Nida Dar was the standout bowler for Pakistan, collecting three for 39 from her ten overs.

Dar then top-scored for Pakistan with 50 runs, while captain Bismah Maroof added 38. However, Pakistan was always behind the needed run rate, and after reaching three for 155, they only added 39 runs and lost six wickets.

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