(MENAFN- Gulf Times) New Zealand got its ICC Women's World Cup campaign off to a winning start with a convincing nine-wicket victory over Sri Lanka at the Bristol County Ground yesterday. Holly Huddleston starred for the White Ferns, taking five wickets in a devastating second spell that brought Sri Lanka's batting line-up to its knees, before skipper Suzie Bates's magnificent 106 not out ensured her side would cruise to its 189-run target with 12.2 overs to spare.
Sri Lanka made an assured start to its innings, but New Zealand kept the pressure on with tight bowling throughout. Katey Martin dropped opener Chamari Polgampala on 13 off Sophie Devine's bowling in the 11th over, but shortly after Amelia Kerr was introduced into the attack and made the breakthrough.
The 16-year-old spinner tossed one up to Nipuni Hansika (31) who found Anna Peterson in the deep with a slog sweep over midwicket. That brought the dangerous Chamari Athapaththu to the crease, and alongside Polgampala (who brought up 1,000 career ODI runs during her innings of 49), she gave Sri Lanka a platform to post a big total at 141 for one reaching her half-century with a beautiful inside-out cover drive.
But her wicket turned the innings, as after Athapaththu was deceived by Devine's slower ball and scooped one to extra cover for 53, Sri Lanka lost a further four wickets for just 15 runs.
It was Huddleston (five for 35) who did the real damage, but after stuttering to 189 for nine from its 50 overs Sri Lanka left itself with a mountain to climb. The 29-year-old fast bowler from Auckland was later adjudged player of the match.
Chandima Gunaratne gave Sri Lanka the ideal start, however, as she trapped opener Rachel Priest t in front for just two, but from there on New Zealand flexed its muscles with the vastly experienced pairing of skipper Bates and Amy Satterthwaite. The two put on 170 runs for the unfinished second wicket.
Bates, in particular, was eager to hit out, smashing Inoka Ranaweera back over her head for six to bring up her 50, and going on to record her eighth ODI ton from 107 balls.
Brief Scores: Sri Lanka 188-9, in 50 overs (Chamari Athapaththu 53, Chamari Polgampala 49, Nipuni Hansika 31; Holly Huddleston 5-35, Amelia Kerr 1-13, Sophie
Devine 1-31) lost to New Zealand 189-1, in 37.4 overs (Suzie Bates 106 not out, Amy Satterthwaite 78 not out; Chandima Gunaratne 1-20) by nine wickets
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