New Zealand opt to bowl in World Cup opener

Wicketkeeper-batter Rashada Williams has a concussion and hence not in the West Indies XI

Toss New Zealand chose to bowl vs West Indies

Captain Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates, Lea Tahuhu, Jess Kerr and Hannah Rowe make up New Zealand’s pace attack for the fixture, as was the case for the best part of the recently-concluded ODI series against India in Queenstown where the hosts won 4-1.

Wristpinning-allrounder Amelia Kerr and offspinner Amy Satterthwaite are their spin-bowling options besides Jonas, who has two wickets from her four international performances, all in the 50-over format.

Vice-captain Anisa Mohammed leads their spin attack. She is only one wicket away from becoming the first West Indies player and the first spinner ever to take 300 international wickets in the women’s game. Only India’s Jhulan Goswami, England’s Katherine Brunt, and Australia’s Ellyse Perry have have done it before her.

New Zealand, who won the ODI World Cup in 2000, go into the tournament opener with mixed results in the warm-ups: a loss against Pakistan and a win against favourites Australia. West Indies, who are without a world title in this format, lost both their practice games, against Australia and India.

New Zealand: 1 Suzie Bates, 2 Sophie Devine (capt), 3 Amelia Kerr, 4 Amy Satterthwaite (vice-capt), 5 Maddy Green, 6 Brooke Halliday, 7 Katey Martin (wk), 8 Lea Tahuhu, 9 Jess Kerr, 10 Hannah Rowe, 11 Fran Jonas

West Indies: 1 Deandra Dottin, 2 Hayley Matthews, 3 Kycia Knight, 4 Stafanie Taylor (capt), 5 Shemaine Campbelle (wk), 6 Chedean Nation, 7 Chinelle Henry, 8 Aaliyah Alleyne, 9 Anisa Mohammed (vice-capt), 10 Shakera Selman, 11 Shamilia Connell