Katie Perkins

New Zealand batter Katie Perkins’ dismissal during a tour match against Australia Governor-General's XI on Thursday in Sydney caught everyone by surprise. In fact, Heather Graham, the Australian bowler, who got the wicket was in disbelief herself after completing the catch.

New Zealand team boasts of two players --- Katie Perkins and Erin Bermingham --- who both double up as policewomen when not on the cricket field.

Bowler Jess Kerr and wicket-keeper Natalie Dodd have been offered New Zealand women's team's central contracts for the first time as part of a 17-player list for the 2020-21 season.

New Zealand coach Gary Stead on Saturday said he has a "strong relationship" with skipper Kane Williamson and added that the talks of a possible contract extension with the Kiwi side have been "positive".

North-based New Zealand players including seniors Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Ross Taylor will return to outdoor training at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui this week, after a hiatus of four months due to coronavirus pandemic.

Leg-spinner Deanna Doughty was handed a maiden call-up, while former skipper Amy Satterthwaite and all-rounder Jess Watkin also returned as New Zealand named a 17-member women's squad for the upcoming limited-overs series against Australia.

They are here to play cricket, but many among the New Zealand women's team are multi-faceted personalities.

New Zealand women will start favourite against the erratic West Indians when the two sides fight it out in the second semifinal of the ICC Women's World Twenty20 here Thursday.

A dominant India will look to seal the three-ODI series with another collective effort and consolidate their position in the ICC women's championship table when they face New Zealand in the second one-day international here Tuesday.

On a high after two easy victories on the trot, including one against defending champion Australia, the Indian women's cricket team will aim to inch closer to a semifinal berth when it takes on New Zealand in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup here on Thursday.

Their confidence on a low after two consecutive defeats, India face a do-or-die situation when they take on New Zealand in what can be termed as a virtual quarterfinal of the ICC Women's World Cup on Saturday.

The Indian women's cricket team will aim to put behind the off-field furores and bring the focus back on the game when it clashes with New Zealand in a three-match ODI series starting Thursday.

India produced a superb bowling display to dismiss the Kiwis for 79 in just 25.3 overs. Left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad (5/15) was the pick of the bowlers with her five-wicket haul, while Deepti Sharma (2/26) scalped two and Jhulan Goswami (1/14), Shikha Pandey (1/12) and Poonam Yadav (1/12) picked one each respectively.