White Fern Izzy Gaze at the one-day international against England in Chester le Street, England, June 26, 2024. ( Photo: AFP
Izzy Gaze scored a century, but the White Ferns have lost their rain-interrupted ODI World Cup warm-up match against India A in Bengaluru.
The New Zealanders scored 273 for nine in their 50 overs, with Gaze unbeaten on 101.
In reply, India A scored 226 for six, achieving their rain reduced target under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method, with an unbeaten 104-run partnership by wicketkeeper Madiwala Mamatha (56 not out) and captain Minnu Mani (39) thwarting the White Ferns bowlers. The pair got their team home with three balls remaining, a win by four wickets.
The New Zealanders had a poor start to their innings, with Suzie Bates (10), Georgia Plimmer (6) and Melie Kerr (1) all out cheaply.
Skipper Sophie Devine (34), Brooke Halliday (22) and Maddy Green (30) all got starts, but the innings got most of its heft from a 90-run eighth wicket partnership between Gaze and Jess Kerr, who scored 30 off 30 balls.
Gaze curbed her natural aggressive instincts to steady the innings, but wasn't afraid to give the ball a nudge, hitting 15 boundaries and a six in her innings.
India A were sailing along nicely at a run rate of over seven an over when the rain intervened in the 11th over, and another delay in the 30th over meant a recalculated total of 224 from 40 overs.
Gaze thought the White Ferns total was enough to win the match, but it wasn't to be.
"It felt pretty good to get some runs today. It's nice leading into a big tournament, and the conditions were good, so a good knock today,'' she said.
"I like to be an aggressive batter, so I had to rein myself in a little bit today. Coming in at that time I knew I had to play a sensible game."
One of the positives for the White Ferns was the good bowling form of the Kerr sisters, with Jess taking two for 15 and Melie two for 26.
Opening bowlers Devine and Bree Illing took a wicket each but were expensive on what was a belter of a pitch.
The White Ferns play the main India side in their final warm-up match tomorrow night, before taking on hot World Cup favourites Australia on Wednesday in Indore.
Gaze said they would learn from their first outing.
"We know we are building until that game one and that is our main goal right now.''
