An opening stand of 116 runs by Suzie Bates and Frances Mackay guided New Zealand women’s team to a 42-run win over Ireland women’s team in a match of the ICC World Twenty20 at the Sylhet Stadium on Tuesday. Replying to New Zealand’s 171 runs, Ireland scored 129 runs for 5 wickets in stipulated 20 overs.Middle order Cecelia Joyce contributed not out 39 runs off 28 balls with four boundaries while opener Clare Shillington made 28 runs off 25 balls with six fours before she was caught and bowled by Frances Mackay. Skipper Isobel Joyce added 24 runs off 28 balls with three fours before she was caught by Frances Mackay off a Morna Nielsen delivery. Elena Tice (11), Melissa Scott-Hayward (9), Louise McCarthy (not out 7) and Emma Flanagan (5) were the other scorers for Ireland.Morna Nielsen captured two wickets for 23 runs in her 4 overs spell while Frances Mackay took one wicket for 26 runs in 4 overs. Earlier, batting first after winning the toss, New Zealand posted a challenging total of 171 runs for 3 in 20 overs.Skipper Suzie Bates scored 68 runs from 51 balls with 10 fours and later captured one wicket for 20 runs to be adjudged player of the match. In the opening stand, Suzie Bates pairing with Frances Mackay scored 116 runs in 15.1 overs before Bates was caught by Elena Tice off an Eimear Richardson delivery. Frances Mackay made 51 runs off 49 balls with six fours before caught and bowled by Eimear Richardson. One down Sara McGlashan hammered not out 34 runs off 13 balls with two fours and three sixes while two down Rachel Priest scored 6 runs off 7 balls before she was caught by Cecelia Joyce off an Isobel Joyce delivery. Eimear Richardson captured two wickets for 32 runs in her 4 overs spell while skipper Isobel Joyce took one wicket conceding 17 runs.
