14 June, 2009
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On the back of a brutal innings from the multi-talented Suzie Bates, New Zealand moved closer to the Women's Twenty20 semi-finals with a 52-run win over the West Indies.
New Zealand's total of 6-158 at Taunton was thanks in the main part to Bates' 60 off only 39 balls.
Bates, who also represented New Zealand in basketball at last year's Beijing Olympics, smashed 11 fours and received strong support from fellow opener Lucy Doolan's 41.
The pair put on an opening stand of 94 inside 10 overs but Bates' wicket led to a stuttering end to New Zealand's innings where it lost 6-62.
It mattered little as the Windies never looked likely to threaten the total and opener Stafanie Taylor's unbeaten 58 stood out like a beacon as a meagre chase fizzled out to 7-106.
Doolan completed a fine match by taking 3-16 and was well supported by captain and fellow spinner Aimee Watkins, who conceded only 12 from her four overs.
New Zealand coach Gary Stead was reasonably pleased with his side's efforts, apart from its failure to knock up a higher total with the bat.
"There was good and bad," Stead said. "We made a great start and we started thinking about getting to 200 for the first time – perhaps we got ahead of ourselves."
"The disappointing thing was that some of our batters started slogging a bit when we didn't need to."
"But I was really pleased with the spin bowling of Lucy and Aimee. They bowled eight overs for 28. They were outstanding."
New Zealand's final Pool A match is against South Africa on Monday and only a series of freak results will see it denied a semi-final berth.
The West Indies and Australia look set to battle it out for the second semis spot on Sunday.
Meanwhile, leg spinner Priyanka Roy took the first five-wicket haul of the tournament as India struggled to get back on track with a five-wicket win over Pakistan in Group B.
Roy finished with the figures of 5-16, her best in any form of international cricket, after seamer Rumeli Dhar had taken the first three wickets.
Pakistan's total of 75 all out, the lowest in the tournament, seemed straightforward for the Indians, but they slipped to 3-16 and then 4-36 with key batter Mithali Raj back in the pavilion.
However, opener Anjum Chopra kept her cool and scored a valuable 37 not out to see India, so disappointing in its opening defeat to England, home with 2.2 overs to spare.
"Am I happy?" said India coach Sudha Shah. "Well, we had to win and we did. But no, I'm not happy with the way we played at all. Our final game against Sri Lanka is another must-win. Hopefully we will click against them."
A relieved Chopra added: "Wickets were falling like nine-pins, so it was a little tense. Fortunately the score wasn't too high and you could push it around for singles. You need matches like this… but not too often."