Sport

White Ferns win maiden T20 series against India

18:42 pm on 17 July 2015

The New Zealand women's cricket team have won their maiden Twenty20 series in India with a match to spare after defeating the hosts by six wickets in game two in Bangalore.

White Fern Rachel Priest on her way to hitting world's second fastest 50 Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Chasing India's 136, White Ferns opener Rachel Priest led the chase, blasting her maiden Twenty20 International half-century off just 22 balls.

Priest's knock fell just short of the women's world record set by team-mate Sophie Devine who scored an 18-ball fifty in the opening game.

Priest's effort stands as the world's second equal fastest T20 half-century in women's cricket, alongside West Indian Deandra Dottin.

Priest made a career-best 34-ball 60, including 10 fours and two sixes and sweeping the White Ferns into a comfortable position at 92/4 by the time she was caught off Poonam Yadav in the 11th over.

Earlier, captain Suzie Bates had put India in after winning the toss and made a key breakthrough when she ran out her opposing skipper Mithali Raj with a direct hit in the first over.

Opener Vanitha Vellaswamy top-scored for the hosts with a solid 41.

White Fern Katie Perkins struck the winning boundary in the 18th over to finish unbeaten on a run-a-ball 23 with batting partner Amy Satterthwaite.