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“The Rosebowl” On The Line At The Bay Oval This Week

White Ferns v Australia

On Thursday 3rd March 2017, Trans-Tasman Women’s cricket hostilities will resume at the Bay Oval. Last February, the White Ferns squared off with the Australian Women’s side, in a three game ODI series for a trophy simply known as the “Rosebowl”. The 2016 Rosebowl series turned into a battle of attrition after New Zealand took out the first encounter. 

Australian captain Meg Lanning, produced back to back centuries in the last two matchups to give Australia a hard-fought 2-1 series win. To add to the pulsating action during the series, White Ferns skipper Suzie Bates fired a century at the Australian visitors in game three, to set up a thriller finish.

The quality of the playing surface at the Bay Oval, the extensive player amenities provided in the pavilion and the superb training facilities on Blake Park, have seen the White Ferns becoming regular visitors to the Western Bay of Plenty. In 2014, the White Ferns played West Indies Women twice, followed by three games against England Women in 2015, before the dramatic series against Australia Women last year. 

Bay of Plenty Cricket CEO Chris Rapson said “it is great recognition for the Bay Oval and the quality of the surfaces and amenities here, that NZ Cricket chooses to bring these top of the line matches to our Headquarters”. “Our top women’s athlete’s deserve the very best conditions to display their talent and as always competition against our nearest neighbours will be hardfought and enhanced by having the absolute best conditions for practice and play in New Zealand”.

“We greatly admire the development of the White Ferns and as always we are thrilled to welcome both teams to the Bay Oval”. 

The White Ferns and their Australian international opponents have a hectic schedule leading up to the two Bay Oval games. They played three Twenty 20 encounters in Australia, before crossing the ditch to play the first ODI at Eden Park Outer Ground last Sunday. 

With the White Ferns winning the first ODI in Auckland, the three-game series is well and truly alive and on the line, when the two teams square off at the Bay Oval on Thursday 2nd March, before backing up three days later on Sunday 5th March 2017.

There will be plenty of local interest in the two Bay Oval White Fern encounters with the return of Anna Petersen to the Western Bay of Plenty. Anna learned her cricket craft in the Western Bay of Plenty and played Bay of Plenty Age-Group and Senior Women’s cricket before moving away to further her cricket career.  Anna recently wrote her own piece of New Zealand Women’s Cricket history, when she became the first kiwi to take a hat-trick in Women’s T20 Internationals, against Australia.

Another White Fern with local connections is Samantha Curtis who now calls the Western Bay of Plenty home. 

The Rosebowl – White Ferns v Australia Women @ Bay Oval Mount Maunganui ODI Series 2107
Game Two – Thursday 2nd March     11am start
Game Three – Sunday 5th March     11am start