Sara out to make most of opportunities

Anendra Singh
Sara McGlashan is a firm believer in the adage that when one door closes, another inevitably opens.
Desperately seeking a role with cricketing institutions in Hawke's Bay, the New Zealand representative left the region and her family after her application came up short. But within a year in Christchurch, New Zealand Cricket offered the talented former Cornwall batsman a job.
Recently, it appointed last season's best female cricketer award winner to the post of national women's development officer.
"Yeah, that's life. It's about making the most of your opportunities," a philosophical McGlashan told SportToday from Whangarei last night.
So when the Central Districts Hinds player walks out on to the Cobham Oval field today with her New Zealand teammates to lock horns with the touring Australian women's side she will put behind her cheap dismissal in the first Rosebowl Series match on Sunday.
"It's one game in which I middled to square leg but that's all part of cricket," she said, after making only five runs at No 5 in the White Ferns team who snuck in with a two-wicket victory.
"You just walk out for the next game knowing it's another day and execute your skills with a mental approach.
"It's a totally different day and you play ball by ball your natural game and hope all your hard work will come off."
When the top five batsmen register single-digit figures then the pressure falls on the lower order and that is a recipe for disaster.
Fortunately for the Ferns, the Canterbury left-hander Amy Satterthwaite scored an unbeaten 49 after they were decimated in 10 overs to 28-5.
The No 7 batsman combined with No 9 Lucy Doolan in a crucial partnership before she was run out for 34.
Napier Old Boys Marist batsman and Fern wicketkeeper then saw the Kiwis safely home.
McGlashan said: "Amy and Lucy's partnership got us out of a big hole. But I suppose we underperfomed and came away with a win."
She was left ruing a 3-2 series loss last year after dominating with the bat with 30s, 40s and 50s but failing to go on to make a ton.
NOBM bowler Abby Burrows, who took two wickets on debut on Sunday, is also in the squad.
Two matches will be played in Hamilton and another in Wellington, if needed, when McGlashan's parents, Peter and Min, of Puketapu, will watch her play.