What a game! We have made it to the World Cup final in quite some style. I am particularly chuffed about Suzie Bates’ 168 and our world-record stand – highest for the second wicket in women’s ODI. Her effort was fantastic, she is a very clean hitter of the ball and began very aggressively. The lightning quick outfield just made things a little easier. Some of her six sixes – another record – went right out the park and I can tell you that’s a pure joy to watch. But we didn’t get distracted by getting fours and sixes and also concentrated on accumulating singles. Looking back, 400 was possible but we were just looking to get as many runs as possible.
Our batting is peaking at the right time and today we didn’t mess around with the line-up much. It’s a settled batting order which makes me feel at ease ahead of meeting England. I know we took 48 overs to bowl Pakistan out but it doesn’t worry me – their openers batted really well and the rest of the line-up hardly played any shots to give us a chance. There is still some concern over the fielding – we conceded many overthrows today – and that is an area we really need to work on.
Rebecca Rolls, our former keeper, is holidaying in Australia right now and I must say she timed it well! She has always been a great supporter and morale-booster for us since she retired, always sending us texts and emails encouraging us. She is spending time with the team right now and was part of the side that rattled up 455 against Pakistan in 1997. How cool would that have been? She was certainly pleased by the show we put up.
We have been getting a lot of support from back home as well. The media coverage in New Zealand for the World Cup has been a lot more this time. There has also been an overwhelming response on our message board on the New Zealand Cricket website. But the most heartwarming and inspiring reactions have come from the New Zealand troops out in Afghanistan. The soldiers fighting there have told us they are following our campaign keenly and that is a great lift for us. We always feel proud representing our country, but moments like this make it truly special.
Looking ahead to the final, I know England have beaten us earlier in the tournament but we do not fear them at all. They have a good all-round team, a great balance of youngsters and experience but we are ready for them. Bring ‘em on, I say! While the response back home has been encouraging, I’m not sure how our performance will impact New Zealand cricket, women’s in particular. I know the board has put in plans for developing the women’s game but are contracts on the horizon? I can’t really say. New Zealand is a sport-loving country and a small one, with a population of four million, so it really feels great to represent it.
welldone girls...win it for ur country...! high five...
Posted by: Dennis at March 19, 2009 8:58 AM
Congratulations on such a comprehensive victory and best of luck in the final!
Posted by: Murtaza Maqbool at March 19, 2009 9:12 AM
despite being a pakistani, I must say u played really well, n I pray that u beat Enland in the finals..
Posted by: malcolm jacobson at March 19, 2009 9:35 AM
Dont overlook your own hundred. You did well too. Congrats on reaching the final. Really hope you win
Posted by: Ashwin at March 19, 2009 11:08 AM
Well done girls and good luck for the finals. As you said in your blog too, do not fear England. Their last game tells that they too are not invincibles.
Go with full focus into the final. The cup will be yours
Posted by: Satya at March 19, 2009 5:18 PM
Congrats... good luck for final...
Posted by: Sean at March 19, 2009 6:04 PM
Awesome display girls, have been following your games online and on telly when shown, hopefully you can inspire our lads playing India!! Would've loved to watched yesterdays blitz by Suzie. Bring it home for us all. Cheers
Posted by: Umer at March 19, 2009 6:20 PM
Being a Pakistani living in UK, Still i would love you guys to win the cup. gr8 keep the spirit high.
Posted by: M. Chithambaradhas at March 20, 2009 4:15 AM
Awesome display girls, have been following your games online and on telly when shown, hopefully you can inspire our lads playing India!! Would've loved to watched yesterdays blitz by Suzie. Bring it home for us all. Cheers
Posted by: Rakesh Kothari at March 20, 2009 5:53 AM
Congrats for this remarkable victory. Suzie Bates’ really done a good job. Please keep it up this spirit for the final and Best of luck for the Final.
Posted by: Jenny at March 20, 2009 9:46 AM
Yes, don't overlook your ton, Haidee! It was a quality knock but, my, Suzie Bates' innings was something special, wasn't it? This cup has been a great ad for the game, as they say. Should be a great final - really looking forward to it.
Posted by: awais at March 20, 2009 2:53 PM
how to play cricket ..everyone should learn from u girls..amazing performance..i wish u all best of luck for the final...I LOVE CRICKET...
Posted by: Senthil at March 21, 2009 8:17 AM
As said earlier in your previous blog;
You are just one game away. (Dhoni's Mantra): Every game is new game. Start from the Scratch.
Mithali Raj, India's former captain, has been on the international circuit for a decade. In August 2006, she led India to their first-ever Test and series win in England and capped off the year by winning the Asia Cup - the second time in 12 months - without dropping a game. India, under her captaincy, also reached the World Cup final in 2005. Now, as one of the senior members of the side, and the premier batsman, a lot will be riding on her for the two World Cups - 50-over and Twenty20 - that India will play in 2009.
Urooj Mumtaz managed to juggle a course in dentistry along with captaining Pakistan. Their most recent triumph was qualifying for the World Cup next year and the 22-year old Urooj will lead a young team to Australia in hope of creating a favourable impression of the Pakistan women's team among the other sides as well as back home. A legspinner, she has a hat-trick against Zimbabwe.
Cri-zelda Brits became South Africa’s captain at the age of 23, standing in for Shandre Fritze in the home series against Pakistan in 2007. She followed this by captaining the side to a 3-0 series whitewash against the Netherlands as well as winning the first-ever Test between the two sides by 159 runs. In 2008 she scored her maiden ODI hundred and led South Africa to a spot in the World Cup after beating Pakistan in the Qualifiers final in Stellenbosch. She also coaches the Northwest women's team, based in Potchefstroom, and runs her own academy.
Shelley Nitschke combines playing for Australia and her state with working in cricket, as a school officer. A useful spinner, her batting is also worth talking about – she has developed into a handy allrounder. Her major achievements to date are winning the 2005 World Cup, taking 7 for 24 against England in Kidderminster in 2005 and being nominated for the ICC Women's Player of the Year in 2006-07. Although she has played netball, softball and basketball, cricket has always been her stand-out sport.
Ebony Rainford-Brent made history as one of eight England players to be handed a Chance to Shine coaching contract, allowing her flexibility around training. A top-order batsman, she fought back from what doctors thought was a career-killing back injury and could one day bowl again – calling her determined is an understatement. She is on the Surrey Academy and her Super 4s side is Diamonds. Proficient in basketball and athletics, she settled for playing cricket … and the drums.
Haidee Tiffen has played for New Zealand for more than ten years and is now their captain, having begun her career with Otago Under-21s before heading to Canterbury. She has played representational hockey, basketball and rugby – but cricket is her passion and won out over New Zealand junior hockey. She is particularly proud of winning the World Cup in 2000, reaching the 100-ODI milestone and being skipper. Her experience also includes playing for Sussex for two winters and she was also part of the first female academy in Lincoln. Somehow she also finds time to teach Health and PE at Hillmorton High School.
Isobel Joyce,a class bat with a steely mentality, comes from a family full of cricketers - twin sister Cecilia plays alongside her for Ireland and brother Dom for the men’s national team, while another brother, Ed, plays for England and Middlesex. Her first half-century came against a strong New Zealand attack in Dublin in 2004 and her figures of 4 for 20 helped her side beat Scotland by six wickets in the European Championship in 2001, where Ireland won all their three matches. Her 46 against Netherlands in the summer of 2007 helped to maintain her place in the World Cup qualifiers in South Africa. She was in outstanding form with both and ball during the tournament, scoring 148 runs at 37 and taking 10 wickets at an average of 7. She ran out five Pakistani players in Ireland's first match, before earning two successive Player-of-the-Match awards against Scotland and then Zimbabwe, against whom she scored 70 and took 4 for 10. She was named captain for their next series, against West Indies, after Heather Whelan pulled out because she was expecting.
Nadine George has been a regular for West Indies since her debut in 1999. She first led the side on their tour of Europe in June-July 2008, when West Indies thrashed Ireland and Netherlands while putting up a respectable performance against England. Nadine combines playing for West Indies and her national team, St.Lucia, with her day job as a Sergeant in the Police Marine Unit of the Royal St.Lucia Police Force. A left-hand batsman and wicketkeeper, Nadine says the highlights of her career are receiving an MBE at Buckingham Palace in 2005, being the first West Indies woman cricketer to score a century in a Test (in Pakistan in 2004), playing in the World Cup in South Africa (2005), and playing club cricket in Australia in 2006. Nadine also plays netball and volleyball and loves the marine environment and is passionate about diving. She is a qualified open water diver and during her working hours captains a 65 and 82 ft vessel. Her motto in life is "with hard work and dedication one can achieve".
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