Birthday special: Suzie Bates – Top 3 performances in international cricket
Former White Ferns skipper and a gifted all-rounder, Suzie Bates has been one of the finest findings of the New Zealand squad. She made her debut in 2006 after making headlines during the state league season in 2005-06. In her maiden international series against India, she notched up a half-century and showcased some remarkable performances.
Let us have a look at some of her finest performances in international cricket:
3. 4/7 against South Africa, 2009 (ODI)
During the ICC Women’s World Cup 2009, Suzie Bates registered her career-best bowling figures as she picked up four wickets within just five overs, conceding merely seven runs. Her efforts with the ball helped New Zealand clinch a massive 199-run victory. She did not have the best time with the bat in the first innings, and was dismissed for a golden duck, but bounced back stronger with the bat. Notably, those were the only four wickets she scalped throughout the tournament, in her six innings from seven matches.
2. 124*(66) against South Africa, 2018 (T20I)
Bates notched up her highest-ever T20I score while playing against South Africa in a Tri-Nation series that involved England as the hosts. Bates opened the innings for her side and went on to smash a beautiful century, and stayed on the crease till the end to take her side to 216/1 in 20 overs. She ended up scoring an unbeaten 66-ball 124*, which was studded with 16 fours and three sixes. Though New Zealand lost against England in the finals, Bates ended as the second-highest run scorer in the tournament.
1. 168(105) against Pakistan, 2009 (ODI)
The World Cup of 2009 was surely memorable for the all-rounder. After bagging the best bowling figures earlier in the tournament, Bates went on to bag her career-best ODI score when she played against Pakistan in the Super 6s. New Zealand lost the first wicket early, and Bates walked in at No. 3 and put up a masterclass as the then skipper Haidee Tiffen and Bates stitched up a massive 262-run stand for the second wicket, and Bates went berserk as she notched up 168 runs in just 105 deliveries by hitting 19 fours and six humungous sixes.
