Suzie Bates cautious of South Africa Women

"In the last ICC World T20 (2014), we exited in the group stage after losing to South Africa, so we know how big a game this is," New Zealand skipper Suzie Bates said.

Suzie Bates suggested that she will continue to depend on the slow bowlers to steal the show.

Despite an unbeaten three-match run at the ICC World T20 2016, the New Zealand women's team is wary of thinking too far ahead. The focus remains on the task at hand — finishing the group stage on a high, with a good show against South Africa here on Saturday.

“In the last ICC World T20 (2014), we exited in the group stage after losing to South Africa, so we know how big a game this is,” New Zealand skipper Suzie Bates said.

In spinners Leigh Kasperek and Erin Bermingham, the White Ferns are well-equipped to make best use of the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium wicket. The duo had picked up five wickets between them to guide their team to victory over Australia in the previous match. This has prompted Suzie — the highest run-scorer of the tournament so far — to suggest that she will continue to depend on the slow bowlers to steal the show.

For South Africa (one win and one defeat so far), a loss here will cause a severe blow to its chances of reaching the knockout rounds.

“We need to adapt to these conditions quickly. I believe that around 145 will be a good score on this wicket,” captain Mignon du Preez said.