Suzie Bates stars with bat and ball in Sussex win
Sunday 3rd July 2016
Kent Women beat reigning T20 champions Sussex at Arundel Castle, inspired by an excellent all-round display from New Zealand captain Suzie Bates.
Bates took all three wickets for Kent, conceding just 14 runs in her four overs as White Ferns team-mate Sara McGlashan scored 88 on her Sussex debut before falling to her international skipper, caught by Kent captain Lydia Greenway.
The overseas signing said of the key wicket: "Being such a good friend you want Sara to score runs.
"But when she was tonking a few too many I was like ‘that’s enough now you can get out’.
“We had no choice but to go out hard in the first six overs and have a bit of a go. We got the target in 15 or 16 overs so yeah I think we must have entertained a little bit!
“Playing overseas is happening more and more in women’s cricket and so there is quite a bit of expectation.
“Initially it’s quite a daunting thing but the more you do it the more you learn to deal with the expectation and realise it’s just another cricket game.”
Opener Izzy Collis hit 60 not out as the hosts posted 177 for three before Bates' unbeaten 106 off 51 balls helped see Kent home.
The 28-year-old all-rounder opened the innings with Alice Davidson-Richards, who scored a fine 66 in an opening stand of 174 to keep the runs flowing as Kent chased the total with four overs to spare.
With three players away on England duty and Charlotte Edwards covering the Women's NatWest IT20 in Bristol, Kent gave debuts to Tunbridge Wells duo Rochelle Beeson and Izzy Cloke.