Bates, Mackay set up big NZ win

Aggressive half-centuries from Suzie Bates and Frances Mackay, the New Zealand Women openers, set up the platform for their team's dominating performance in a Group A match against Ireland Women in Sylhet. The two added 116 in 15.1 overs for the first wicket before an onslaught from Sarah McGlashan boosted the total to 171.

New Zealand ransacked 55 runs from the last five overs with McGlashan clearing the boundary three times in her unbeaten 13-ball 34 but it was the century opening stand that set the tone for New Zealand. Bates and Mackay started the innings in a steady fashion, scoring 28 in the first five overs but a hat-trick of boundaries in the last over of the Powerplay added impetus to the innings. Bates reached her half-century in 37 balls with a boundary too - her eighth.

Mackay, who had been the quieter of the two, picked up her scoring after the dismissal of Bates in the 16th over but was out soon after reaching her half-century. McGlashan, though, used the strong start as a spring board for a dominating finish. She smashed two of her three sixes in the last over of the innings.

Ireland, despite losing their first wicket early, made a steady start, reaching 50 in the eighth over, but once Clare Shillington was caught and bowled by Mackay, their innings never picked up pace again. Cecelia Joyce was unbeaten on 39 when Ireland ran out of overs.