Cricket: White Ferns complete rout of Windies

Sophie Devine had the best bowling figures of 3/9 against the West Indies yesterday. Photo/George Novak

The White Ferns compre-hensively defeated the West Indies in two Twenty20 internationals played at the Bay Oval in perfect summer conditions over the weekend.

The wins completed a rout by the White Ferns over the visitors, taking the Twenty20 series 4-0 and the ODI series 3-0.

Under coach and former Black Caps wicketkeeper Warren Lees, the White Ferns are continuing to improve and putting together consistent performances as the Black Caps have done this summer.

On Saturday the good-sized crowd at Bay Oval probably felt a little disappointed the West Indies batted first as the Caribbean girls could muster just 99 in ideal batting conditions.

Morna Neilson took 2/8 off 4 overs with her left arm seamers while captain Suzie Bates also grabbed a double with 2/12.

Bates then dominated the White Ferns run chase with a boundary-laden 50. After the run out first ball of fellow opener Samantha Curtis, Bates got stuck into the gentle West Indies attack, hitting two fours and two sixes in her entertaining knock.

Sara McGlashan finished 32 not out as the White Ferns won by 8 wickets in the 16th over.

Yesterday the White Ferns batted first and found it difficult to accelerate the innings on the easy-paced pitch. Bates again led from the front, notching up 57 off 51 balls with four boundaries as the White Ferns made 124-5 off their allotted 20 overs.

West Indies struggled in their reply and were all out for 90 in the final over, with Sophie Devine taking 3/9 and Frances Mackay 2/13.

Both teams fly out to Bangladesh this week to compete in the Twenty20 World Cup.

International Women's Twenty20

Yesterday: White Ferns 124/5 (Suzie Bates 57, Sara McGlashan 30) defeated West Indies 90 ( Sophie Devine 3/9, Frances Mackay 2/13).

Saturday: West Indies 99/7 (Shemaine Campbelle 29: Morna Nielsen 2/8, Suzie Bates 2/12) lost to White Ferns 103/2 (Suzie Bates 50, Sara McGlashan 32no).