WHITE FERNS coach Haidee Tiffen address her players post play.

A good hit out

Posted Wednesday, 14 June, 2017 in International Match Reports

WHITE FERNS coach Haidee Tiffen believes her side will benefit a lot from their opening hit out against Australia in Hampshire.

Both team’s used the occasion to experiment with different players in the unofficial 50 over friendly which the Southern Stars claimed 46 by runs.

Scorecard

Tiffen said it was good to get their first game on UK soil out of the way as they ramp up their preparations for the ICC Women’s World Cup.

“It was great for the girls to get out there on the grass with the English sun on their backs,” she said.

“We were able to see pretty much all of our squad have a go against a strong opposition and that’s really valuable for us heading forward.

“Although we weren’t quite as clinical in some areas as we would have liked, there was still a lot of positives to take out of match.

“I thought our new ball bowlers did a decent job up front and for us to take 6-36 at the death and bowl Australia out inside 48 overs was testament to how the girls stuck to their task in the field on a hot day.”

“When you lose two of your key players to first ballers with the bat, it’s always going to be a little tricky. I thought Rachel Priest (34) played nicely at the top and Anna Peterson showed us what she can do down the order with 42 off 49.”

After winning a rock-paper-scissors toss and deciding to bat, Australia managed 287, thanks largely to an Ellyse Perry century.

Wellington all rounder Sophie Devine made a successful return to international cricket after a year away.

The 27-year-old bowled with good pace up front and deserved her figures of 3-44 before striking three boundaries in a 14 ball cameo.

Seamer Thamsyn Newton showed her prowess with the bat down the order with 41 off 43 as the WHITE FERNS pushed Australia right to the end.

“We pride ourselves on our team spirit and our never say die attitude. The energy and fizz from the whole team throughout the game was outstanding and that’s a huge win for us,” Tiffen said.

The WHITE FERNS will relocate to Derby this weekend for their official tournament warm-ups against India on Monday and England on Wednesday.

Their first game of the World Cup is against Sri Lanka in Bristol on June 24th.

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