A good sized crowd of interested spectators took advantage of the beautiful Bay of Plenty autumn weather to catch the last two games of the White Ferns verses West Indies, five match T20 series at the Bay Oval.

In game four on Saturday (8 March 2014) the New Zealand team were looking to lock up the T20 series silverware. The West Indies won the toss and backed themselves to bat first, on a wicket that looked to have plenty of runs in it.

Kycia Knight made 18 runs before being caught out

While opener Kycia Knight made a determined start and went on to score 28 runs, the visitors were in trouble at 21/3. The arrival of Shemaine Campbell, who top scored with 29 turned the tide and produced a spirited partnership with Kycia Knight. However when Campbell was caught off the bowling of Nicola Brown, the White Ferns were in charge and went on to restrict the Caribbean side to 99/7. Morna Nielsen and Suzie Bates grabbed two wickets apiece.

The White Ferns victory was a walk in the park, with opener Suzie Bates leading the charge with a polished half century. A White Ferns run-out was nothing more than a minor hiccup, as the New Zealand side cruised to an eight wicket win. Sara McGlashen finished with an unbeaten 32 runs with Sophie Devine 15 not out.

While the White Ferns had wrapped up the T20 series the previous day – their mission in game five on Sunday was to whitewash the opposition in both the ODI and T20 series.

Winning the toss saw the White Ferns elect to bat, with opener Suzie Bates again leading the way with an aggressive 57 runs off 51 balls. New Zealand number three Sara McGlashan (30) combined with Bates for a 54 run partnership and at 101/2 the White Ferns were in charge. The Caribbean bowlers then took three wickets for 23 runs, with the White Ferns reaching 124 for the loss of five wickets.

The New Zealand bowlers quickly had the West Indies on the back foot, at two down with just 19 runs on the board. A defiant knock of 31 from Kyshona Knight restored some momentum, but when Knight went at 75/5 it was all downhill traffic for the West Indies who were dismissed for 90, to hand the White Ferns an unbeaten T20 series win. Sophie Devine bowled extremely well to finish with three wickets at a cost of just 9 runs, with Frances Mackay returning 2/13.

International Women's T20 – White Ferns v West Indies Results

Sunday 9 March 2014

White Ferns 124/5 (Suzie Bates 57, Sara McGlashan 30) defeated West Indies 90 (Kyshona Knight 31; Sophie Devine 3/9, Frances Mackay 2/13)

Saturday 8 March 2014

West Indies 99/7 (Shemaine Campbelle 29, Kycia Knight 28: Morna Nielsen 2/8, Suzie Bates 2/12) lost to White Ferns 103/2 (Suzie Bates 50, Sara McGlashan 32no)

White Ferns win the T20 series 4 nil.