White Ferns win World Cup warm up match

The White Ferns beat Pakistan by 126 runs in their warm up match at Manly Oval [yesterday] afternoon in Sydney.

Batting first in sticky conditions, The White Ferns amassed 303/9 in their fifty overs...

Openers Haidee Tiffen and Suzie Bates put on 134 for the first wicket, Bates top scoring with 80, Tiffen 33, Sarah McGlashan batting at 4, retired on 68 and a cameo innings from number 10, Sophie Devine smacking 23 not out from 7 deliveries, which includied 2 fours and 2 sixes.

Pakistan's spinner, Naila Nazir the most successful bowler with 2/61 off 10 overs.

Chasing 304, Pakistan totalled 177/8 off their fifty overs,

Off spinner Aimee Mason took 2/32 off ten and right armer medium pacer, Sarah Tsukigawa claiming 3/23 off seven.

White Ferns coach Gary Stead was happy with the hit out, he said the batting conditions wern't that easy, the wicket being slowish and the bounce a bit tennis ball like.

In the field, Stead was happy with the out opportunites created and while his side didn't finish off some of the run out chances, he was impressed with The White Ferns catching especially on the boundary.

Stead believes The Pakistan side has improved vastly from when he saw them play last at this International level and their spinners gave his batting line up a timely test.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, The White Ferns will play India at Old Kings in Parramatta starting at 9-30 am local time, this their last dress rehearsal before The 2009 ICC WORLD CUP opener against Australia, Sunday March the 8th at The North Sydney Oval.