Morna Nielsen picked up her maiden 5 wicket haul to lead the way for the White Ferns as they destroyed Sri Lanka’s batting lineup at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval in the 4th ODI earlier today.
Sri Lanka’s stand in skipper Chamari Atapattu won the toss and decided to bat first, probably owing to the fact that Sri Lanka have just not been able to pick up early Kiwi wickets. The Sri Lankan batting, however, could not cope with the Ferns bowling once again and wickets tumbled at regular intervals. Only 3 batters reached double figures in their total of 126. Atapattu’s batting has been the only positive during the entire tour and things continued in this vein as she brought up her 10th ODI fifty. Ama Kanchana who showed some glimpses of form during the last game scored a fighting 31 off 37 balls as the rest of the batting collapsed around her. Sri Lanka failed to bat out their 50 overs for the 3rd successive game on this tour having been bowled out in the 47th over.
Nielsen was the pick of the bowlers, picking up 5 for 21 off her ten overs and was ably supported by the rest of the bowling attack as they chocked the Lankans into submission.
Yet another unbroken opening wicket partnership saw the Ferns cruise home with more than 30 overs to spare. Captain Suzie Bates had a new opening partner in Amy Satterthwaite this game as the prolific Rachel Priest was pushed down the order in order to give the other batters some time out in the middle. Bates got them off to a typically rollicking start and never let up, reaching her 15th ODI fifty off 41 deliveries. She finished on 70 while her partner Satterthwaite missed out on a 11th ODI fifty as she ended the innings on 49.
Achini Kulasuriya, a last minute inclusion to the squad, made her debut in this game and bowled an economical spell of 4 overs while the rest of the bowling attack was leathered to all parts.
With the win, the White Ferns go to a 4-0 lead in the 5 match series. The first three ODIs, which Sri Lanka lost to concede the series, contributed to the ICC Women’s championship. The Lankans will look to salvage some lost pride and avoid a whitewash in the 5th and final ODI to be held on the 13th of this month.
Sri Lanka Women 126 all out (46.2) (Chamari Atapattu 56, Ama Kanchana 31, Morna Nielsen 5/21, Sophie Devine 2/30)
New Zealand Women 127/0 (18.3) (Suzie Bates 70*, Amy Satterthwaite 49*, Achini Kulasuriya 0/19)
New Zealand Women won by 10 wickets
