11 Dec 2017

Bates thumps ton in WBBL

8:59 am on 11 December 2017

New Zealand women's cricket team captain Suzie Bates became the latest player to set the new Women's Big Bash Twenty20 season alight when she struck a superb century on Sunday.

White Ferns captain Suzie Bates.

White Ferns captain Suzie Bates. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The new skipper for the Adelaide Strikers, Bates clubbed 102 off just 65 balls to led her side to a commanding 83-run home win over the Hobart Hurricanes at Gliderol Stadium.

Adelaide made 176-6 batting first, before bowling the Hurricanes out for 93 in 18.5 overs.

White Ferns captain Bates, who has eight tons in 107 one-day internationals and 15 half-centuries in 91 T20 internationals, belted 15 fours in getting to three figures and had strong support from a New Zealand team-mate.

Sophie Devine, who hit a ton in last year's WBBL, chipped in with 43 off 29 balls and shared in a 117-run third-wicket stand with her national team captain.

The result made it two-from-two for the Strikers over Hobart at the weekend after Adelaide claimed a 45-run win at the same venue on Saturday.

Devine top-scored with 46 off just 21 balls in that game, Bates contributing 31 off 24.

Bates was the second player in as many days to notch a ton in the WBBL, after Sydney Sixers opener Ashleigh Gardner hit a brilliant 114 in a 86-run victory over the Melbourne Stars on Saturday.

The two innings come after just two centuries were scored in the first two season's of the competition, included the innings from Devine.