A late innings collapse from the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars has allowed New Zealand to escape with a four-run victory in the second match of the Rose Bowl Series in Whangarei this afternoon.
Chasing New Zealand’s 7-218, the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars looked headed for a series-levelling win before losing 5-23 in the final five overs to finish four runs short of the target.
After a shaky start to the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars innings, captain Karen Rolton and Lisa Sthalekar built a strong partnership to take their team out of trouble and into a position of control.
Even when their 113-run partnership ended with Rolton’s dismissal for 62 in the 30th over, the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars’ innings still maintained its momentum with Jessica Cameron, in her second match, joining Sthakelar for a 51-run stand.
The pair added 51 in as many balls before Sthalekar’s dismissal in the 45th over sparked the collapse.
Earlier, New Zealand’s innings got off to a fast start with 50 scored from the opening 11 overs. However quick wickets and tight bowling restricted the run scoring and the New Zealand 100 was not brought up until the 30th over.
New Zealand captain Haidee Tiffen was the mainstay of the White Ferns innings with 64 not out while Lucy Doolan (29 not out from 17 balls) produced another important contribution late in the innings.
New Zealand waited until the 46th over to take its batting powerplay and it proved a good strategic move with 41 runs plundered in the final five overs to push the total to its sixth highest against the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars.
New Zealand can secure the Rose Bowl with a win in the third match at Hamilton on Friday. The Rose Bowl Series matches are the last one-day internationals for both teams before the ICC Women’s World Cup in Australia from 7-22 March.
Rose Bowl Series
Fri 6 Feb: Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars v New Zealand, Hamilton
Sun 8 Feb: Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars v New Zealand, Hamilton (d/n)
Thu 12 Feb: Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars v New Zealand, Wellington
