At Seddon Park, Hamilton: White Ferns 123-2 in 26.5 overs (Suzie Bates 51) met Bangladesh
Rain forced another international cricket match to be abandoned after the latest washout in the final ODI between the White Ferns and Bangladesh at Seddon Park.
Saturday’s Hamilton fixture was the seventh lost to rain since March, extending the New Zealand record for international matches abandoned because of the weather in a calendar year.
The abandonment meant the White Ferns won the three-match series 1-0 after Wednesday’s second ODI in Napier was also washed out.
Bruce Lim/PHOTOSPORT
Determined ground staff tried their best to ensure play could resume in the final ODI of the series at Seddon Park.
Suzie Bates hit her 31st ODI 50, although her first, unusually, without scoring any boundaries. She was out for 51 off 80 balls in the 26th over.
The next over, umpires Kim Cotton and Cory Black chatted for the first time about the weather and looked anxiously to the skies.
Two balls later, they called the players off after 26.5 overs, with the hosts 123-2.
The light showers were soon heavier and rain continued to fall.
Play had started on time at 2pm but was officially abandoned at approximately 7:25pm when the skippers shook hands.
Determined ground staff removed the covers for the first pitch inspection when the rain briefly relented after 6pm, with the initial cut-off time for any resumption, of 8:04pm, approaching.
Within minutes, the covers were back on because of another downpour.
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Suzie Bates reached another 50 for the White Ferns before rain stopped play.
They were stripped off again before 7pm when the rain eased somewhat, although the chance of any play seemed remote.
The sensible decision to abandon the match, with more rain forecast on Saturday night, was finally made after another pitch inspection when the smattering of fans on the grass banks were long gone.
Before the rain, Melie Kerr (22) and Maddy Green (5) were the unbeaten batters and New Zealand were struggling to kick on against Bangladesh’s tricky spin bowlers, failing to score a boundary for 87 balls.
The White Ferns were sent in to bat under the gloomy skies but made a steady, risk-free start with captain Sophie Devine and Bates.
Their opening stand was worth 76 until Devine was caught in the 16th over for 42 off 39 balls from Salma Khatun’s spin. It was the first ball after the first drinks break.
Bates and Kerr resumed their innings as drizzle began to fall, but the umpires allowed play to continue for as long as they could.
The boundaries dried up in the rain and Bates, moments after reaching her 50 in 77 balls, lost her patience with a loose shot.
Ritu Moni’s spin deceived the opener, who skied the ball and was caught for 51 before rain stopped play.
Bruce Lim/PHOTOSPORT
From left to right, umpires Cory Black and Kim Cotton chat with turf manager Karl Johnson during one of the pitch inspections at Seddon Park.
Devine’s four fours were New Zealand’s only boundaries when the covers first came on.
The White Ferns players return to their Super Smash teams for the domestic Twenty20 competition that starts next week.
The team’s next competitive fixture is against Australia at the T20 World Cup in South Africa in February.
New Zealand cricket’s washouts in 2022
March 24: South Africa v West Indies, Women’s Cricket World Cup; Basin Reserve, Wellington
March 25: Black Caps v Netherlands, only T20; McLean Park, Napier
November 18: Black Caps v India, 1st T20; Sky Stadium, Wellington
November 27: Black Caps v India, 2nd ODI; Seddon Park, Hamilton
November 30: Black Caps v India, 3rd ODI; Hagley Oval, Christchurch
December 14: White Ferns v Bangladesh, 2nd ODI; McLean Park, Napier
December 17: White Ferns v Bangladesh, 3rd ODI; Seddon Park, Hamilton
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