Cricket: Top women's sides to play mini-World Cup

By RICHARD BOOCK

Hard on the heels of their women's World Cup success, New Zealand Cricket has announced plans to host a top-level quadrangular tournament.

Just as the New Zealand women's team were preparing to leave for their tour of the Netherlands, Ireland and England, NZC operations manager John Reid was confirming details of the tournament, to be staged at Lincoln, near Christchurch.

Arch-rivals Australia, India and England have accepted invitations to join the White Ferns in the tournament, in effect creating a mini-World Cup between four of the top teams.

"I think this will be a fiercely contested tournament and I have no doubt we will see some outstanding women's cricket," Reid said yesterday.

Although the official draw for the tournament has not been finalised, each team is expected to play each other twice, starting with the opening match on January 26.

The New Zealand side flies out today to the Netherlands, where they will play the first of their three matches on June 25, followed by another three ODIs against Ireland and a tri-series in England against the hosts and India.

White Ferns captain Emily Drumm said a 3-0 win was the aim in the Netherlands and Ireland, but she expected far tougher competition from England and India.

"Historically, the Dutch have not been a strong force in women's cricket and we're confident that, if we play well, we'll take the series three-nil," she said.

"But we expect the English and Indian sides to be very competitive. The last time we met these teams was at the World Cup when we beat them both.

"However, that was two seasons ago and this is not the same side ... so it's going to be a real challenge for some of the younger players."

Itinerary: June 25 v the Netherlands, Utrecht; June 26 v the Netherlands, Amsterdam; June 28 v the Netherlands, Utrecht; July 1 v Ireland, Dublin; July 3 v Ireland, Dublin; July 6 v Ireland, Dublin; July 11 v India, Jersey; July 12 v England, Jersey; July 16 v England, Durham; July 17 v India, Durham; July 20, tri-series final, Durham.