Dream comes true for 'ODI specialist'

Someone had better pinch Nicole Bolton and tell her this isn’t all a dream.

The Australian opener scored a brilliant century in her maiden World Cup appearance on Monday, plundering an unbeaten 107 against West Indies in Taunton.

Quick Single: Full AUSvWI match recap

It wasn’t the first time the Western Australian has made a big impression in a debut game either, having scored a ton in her first international match back in January, 2014.

Bolton shared a 171-run opening stand with Beth Mooney, paving the way to an eight-wicket win and carting the Windies attack around the ground in an innings that featured 14 boundaries.

And just in case anyone doubted how much this knock means to the passionate opener, her emotional reaction upon reaching triple figures told the story.

Also telling was her candid reaction after the match.

“I’m just so excited to be here,” Bolton said.

“I was saying to Mooney out in the middle, I felt like I was in a dream, like this wasn’t happening because we were having so much fun.

“Here we are, the first game of the World Cup and you’re playing for your country.

“There’s not too many other things better than that, and to be able to go out there and get the job done today, it’s just really exciting.

“As a group, we’re just really excited about the result.”

Bolton, the sole ODI specialist in a squad of players who generally represent Australia in both limited-overs formats, was tipped by many of her teammates as the player most likely to thrive in this tournament.

It’s early days but so far, their predictions look to be spot on and few are happier than captain Meg Lanning.

“She’s very talented, she’s someone who can bat long and make those match-winning hundreds,” Lanning said on Monday.

“That’s what we need.

“She looked really good out there today, so hopefully those are good signs for this tournament.”

Bolton, 28, has been a consistent presence at the top of the order for Australia since that famous MCG debut against England in early 2014 when she scored 124.

In that time, she’s missed just a sole one-dayer – the first match of the 2015 Ashes, also played at Taunton – due to concussion.

And while there was a 21-innings and 21-month gap between her first and second ODI tons, a drought which ended last September against Sri Lanka, Bolton’s form since arriving in the UK suggests No.4 may not be too far away.

During her time at the top of the order, Bolton has had a series of different opening partners including Lanning, Alyssa Healy and Elyse Villani, but her current pairing with fellow left-hander Mooney appears to be working well for the Australians.

Monday’s opening stand was their biggest from six ODIs together, with Mooney’s contribution of 70 continuing a run that’s seen her average 74 in 2017 to date.

“It’s just great to see Mooney over the last couple of series, particularly in New Zealand when she came away with a 100 and a couple of fifties,” Bolton said.

“It’s something that’s been building for a while and she’s dominated domestically for a number of years now.

“She was a ready-made player, it was just a matter of getting an opportunity and she’s taken it and run with it.

“She’s just a calming influence and someone I really enjoy batting with.”

Women's World Cup 2017 Guide

Australia World Cup squad: Sarah Aley, Kristen Beams, Alex Blackwell (vc), Nicole Bolton, Ashleigh Gardner, Rachael Haynes, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Meg Lanning (c), Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Belinda Vakarewa, Elyse Villani, Amanda-Jade Wellington

Squads: Every World Cup squad named so far

Australia's World Cup schedule

View the full tournament schedule here

Australia fixtures

June 26: Australia bt West Indies by eight wickets

June 29: Sri Lanka v Australia, Bristol

July 2: Australia v New Zealand, Bristol

July 5: Pakistan v Australia, Leicester

July 9: England vAustralia, Bristol

July 12: Australia v India, Bristol

July 15: South Africa v Australia, Taunton

July 18: First semi-final, Bristol

July 20: Second semi-final, Derby

July 23: Final, Lord's