Cricket: Lea Tahuhu tears through Bangladesh for record White Ferns win

New Zealand celebrates the wicket of Dilara Akter of Bangladesh. Photo / photosport.nz

The White Ferns have begun their preparations for February’s T20 World Cup with a record 132-run crushing of Bangladesh in Christchurch tonight.

Coming off a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games and a 4-1 series triumph in the West Indies, the White Ferns were far too strong in all facets for an overmatched opposition, racking up 164-3 before skittling the tourists for 32.

Ben Sawyer will be extremely satisfied with his first match in New Zealand, with his side completing their biggest T20 victory. The new coach was particularly rewarded for continuing to select Lea Tahuhu – despite her omission from the NZC contract list – as the fast bowler finished with career-best figures of 4-6.

Bangladesh are playing their first bilateral series against New Zealand and will be better for the experience. But it’s shaping to be a long couple of weeks, with three ODIs to follow the three T20s.

After the White Ferns opted to bat tonight, they were set up well by an 84-run opening stand between Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates, while also being given a considerable assist from a dire fielding effort.

Bangladesh were clearly battling the Christchurch cold and had their hands stung on several occasions, but their ground fielding, catching and throwing were all found deficient.

Devine and Bates clearly targeted that area, taking off on several occasions when the ball was hit straight to a fielder, while sizeable dimensions at Hagley Oval provided opportunities to emphasise their running between wickets.

The senior duo used their legs – while also hitting 10 boundaries – to finish the powerplay on 49-0 and progress to 80-0 at the halfway mark, moving into top spot for the most runs scored by an opening pair in women’s T20s.

But the partnership came to an end in the 11th over, when Bates (41 off 33) moved across her crease and picked out square leg before Devine (45 off 34) edged behind to fall in the following over.

Amelia Kerr (27 off 21) began with a boundary and hit her fourth with a textbook drive down the ground in the 17th over, surviving a bad drop at fine leg but chipping to mid-off from the next ball.

Tahuhu (13no off 9) moved up the order and with Green (36no off 23) helped the hosts collect 30 runs from the final three overs, with both batters aided by more generous fielding.

The White Ferns started with the spin of Fran Jonas and the pace of Jess Kerr, as two tight overs increased the pressure. And after quick bowling changes, that pressure immediately told.

Hayley Jensen (3-8) and Tahuhu proceeded to pick up five wickets in the space of 18 balls as Bangladesh crumbled to 13-5 at the end of the powerplay. There was only going to be one result from that point, with Fran Jonas (2-2) finishing off a comprehensive win.