Getting England's explosive openers, Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow, out early will be the key to victory for the Black Caps in the Cricket World Cup final on Sunday, according to White Ferns batter Suzie Bates.
White Ferns batter Suzie Bates joined the RNZ Sport team on Extra Time this week to discuss the Black Caps' World Cup final chances. Photo: Photosport
New Zealand will face the hosts at the home of cricket, Lord's, on Sunday after both teams won their respective semifinals.
The Black Caps beat India by 18 runs in a rain-affected semifinal at Old Trafford in Manchester while England beat defending champions Australia by eight wickets at Edgbaston in Birmingham.
Talking to the RNZ Sport team on the Extra Time podcast, Bates said New Zealand has the talent to win its first mens Cricket World Cup title.
"Now it's at that final stage, if the opening bowlers can take early wickets we have as good a chance as any of the teams to win the tournament.
"England looked pretty impressive today, to win with 18 overs to spare against Australia, I don't think you see that too often so they're going to be dangerous at home but there's added pressure with that as well so it's just going to be a brilliant day.
"Hopefully the Black Caps have learnt from the last final and go in there and believe that if they play good cricket they can compete."
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Reflecting on the semifinal effort against India, Bates said the performance of captain Kane Williamson and veteran batsman Ross Taylor in the Black Caps' innings showed their experience after being written off by New Zealand media during the rain delay.
"They understood the conditions of the wicket and knew that 240 was perhaps enough to keep them in the game."
However, Bates said the really impressive aspect of the Black Caps' semifinal performance was the bowling.
"To get Sharma and Kohli early, that was the key to making sure they had a chance at the back end because we know with the Indian depth that they needed to take wickets.
"That's the exciting thing, I think someone like Trent Boult can get any of the top order out we'll need him to get Roy and Bairstow early I think, but Matt Henry has shown he can take wickets up the top as well."
Bates said it's the hosts that will be feeling the pressure the most ahead of Sunday.
"England at home is going to be a brilliant atmosphere and maybe that works in our advantage that there's a little bit of added pressure with that (on England)."
