Cricket: White Ferns hold on to beat West Indies in first Twenty20

This photo of Hayley Matthews being dismissed is so good. Photo / Photosport

Some excellent death bowling from Leigh Kasperek and Sophie Devine has helped the White Ferns to an eight-run win over the West Indies in the first women's Twenty20.

The Windies needed 12 runs off the final over in Mt Maunganui on Wednesday to record their first win of the tour.

But medium pacer Devine began with three dot balls to swing the balance back New Zealand's way.

Earlier, the home side, having been sent in to bat, reached 167-6.

The innings was set up by skipper Suzie Bates (49) and keeper Katey Martin (54), who produced a 76-run second-wicket stand.

After Bates was caught in the deep, Martin was joined by Amy Satterthwaithe and the pair put on 52, with Satterthwaite scoring a breezy 36 off 19 balls.

In reply, the world champions got off to a flyer as Hayley Matthews and Merissa Aguilleira racked up 42 runs for the opening wicket, with Matthews doing the bulk of the scoring.

Matthews continued on to 53 before off-spinner Kasperek removed her via an excellent stumping by Martin.

Stafanie Taylor (51 not out) kept the Windies in the game, and at one stage the visitors needed 15 runs from 10 deliveries.

But Kasperek, bowling the penultimate over, took two more wickets to set up a tense finale, which ended with the West Indies on 159-6.

Kasperek finished with 3-35, while Devine took 2-27.

Game two in the five-match series is at the same venue on Friday night.

- NZN