The White Ferns have swept the West Indies 3-0 in the ODI series after an impressive 205 run win under the sunshine at Hagley Oval.
Captain Suzie Bates is the second White Fern to surpass 4000 ODI runs for New Zealand Photo: © Photosport Ltd 2018 www.photosport.nz
After making 89 runs captain Suzie Bates joined Debbie Hockley in becoming the second White Fern to surpass 4000 ODI runs while Sophie Devine and Amy Satterthwaite were also among the runs as the White Ferns posted 310-5 batting first.
Devine and Holly Huddleston were the best of the bowlers as the White Ferns never gave the West Indies a chance, with the tourists finishing all out for 105.
After the early run out of Lauren Down, who opened for the first time this series, Satterthwaite came to the crease and began to build a solid partnership with Bates.
The White Ferns captain was the aggressor early getting through to 41 with Satterthwaite on 21 as drinks were taken after 15 overs with score 70-1.
Bates brought up the 4000 run milestone before raising the bat for her half century.
It was all looking too easy for the duo as Satterthwaite also brought 50 as the pair went on to break the White Ferns second wicket partnership against the West Indies which was set by Bates and Sarah McGlashan in 2014.
The White Ferns were 167-1 in the 31st over when the West Indies finally made a breakthrough via another run out as Satterthwaite departed for 69 off 81 deliveries. Bates was eyeing consecutive centuries but she was dismissed two overs later, bowled for 89.
That saw Sophie Devine come in at No. 5, and she had little difficulty adjusting to the role after opening the batting in the first two matches.
The Wellington Blaze all-rounder was aggressive from the outset, making strong partnerships with Katey Martin and Anna Peterson to get the White Ferns past 300 for the first time this series as they finished up on 310-5 from their 50 overs.
The White Ferns started strongly in the field with Kate Ebrahim producing a sharp piece of work in the field to run out Kycia Knight in the third over.
Holly Huddleston continued her strong form with the ball, taking the wicket of Hayley Matthews in her first over to leave the West Indies 21-2.
The Auckland Hearts seamer then took the dangerous scalp of West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor to put the White Ferns in a strong position.
The White Ferns kept the pressure on with the ball as Hannah Rowe was rewarded for a persistent line and length to remove Deandra Dottin. Leigh Kasperek then chimed in with a wicket before the Central Hinds speedster Rowe dismissed Merissa Aguilleira.
The West Indies never recovered as Ebrahim nabbed a wicket and Devine cleaned up the tail dismissing their last three batters as the tourists innings finished on 105 all out.
"We were outstanding with the bat a big partnership with Amy set up the game and we've been asking for that all series," said Suzie Bates.
"I thought we responded well to the coaches asking for us to be better and from then on it's been some really good cricket.
"Twenty-twenty is a different story and you have to make sure you stick to your plan and not worry to much about the outcome."
Both sides will now head north for a five-match T20 series starting Wednesday in Tauranga.
- RNZ
