Record performance like watching from outside yourself - Rolls

A world record for the fastest 50 in One-Day Internationals appears to have been achieved by New Zealand opener and wicket-keeper Rebecca Rolls in the World Series of Women's Cricket match against India at Bert Sutcliffe Oval today.

While records are sketchy, it seems that her 30-ball innings is the fastest recorded half century in the women's game.

She ended the innings with 59 runs off 37 balls including 12 fours with some controversy about whether she was caught behind by wicket-keeper Sulakshana Naik. The square leg umpire Jeremy Busby was called into play by bowler's end umpire Dave Quested and he felt the catch had been completed.

Rolls' batting was more than a slog fest, it featured some cultured shots, with cover drives and sweep shots timed to perfection.

"It was a bit like watching from outside yourself," Rolls said.

"In that situation you ride your luck and follow your instincts."

She said that she has been trying to ensure she stays at the wicket longer through the innings but she finds it very difficult to control her urges when getting on a roll like that she experienced today.

While disappointed with the nature of her dismissal she said she shouldn't have edged the ball in the first play.

Then when donning the wicket-keeping gloves she picked up two key stumpings, the first to remove the troublesome Mithali Raj for her potentially game-breaking innings when she scored 82 off 98 balls, and then the last wicket to fall, Jhulan Goswami which allowed New Zealand to claim the bonus point to give it a place in Saturday's final.

She said that she had been standing up to the wicket deliberately to keep the pressure on Raj who liked to drive, and because the ball wasn't carrying to her standing back. She also finds it good for staying focused.

This was despite the loss of half a tooth in the first game against India which required some dental work in the evening. She suffered a blow in the face from a ball rebounding off a bottom edge.

As far as the team was concerned she said it had still to put a complete performance together but the base of a really good team was there and because the side's bowling stocks had been depleted since the 2000 CricInfo Women's World Cup it was a case of patience for the side.