New Zealand aim to get back on track but Bangladesh could prove another tough obstacle

The tournament hosts were beaten in the opener against West Indies, while South Africa proved too good when faced with the debutants

Heartbreaking. Deflated. Upset. Suzie Bates was saying all the right things as she attempted to unpick New Zealand's defeat on opening night against West Indies.

It was a rollercoaster of a contest that swayed one way, and then another. Katey Martin and Jess Kerr's 40-run stand for the seventh wicket took the Kiwis within five of victory in the final over before three late wickets won it for the Windies.

Nevertheless, it was the classic start that every major tournament needs. But if New Zealand are to turn defeat into a first World Cup triumph since 2000 then they'll need to quickly dismiss the memories of Mount Maunganui.

That process is helped in part by the quick turnaround. Less than two hours after the conclusion they were packed up and off to Dunedin, where Bates will play her 163rd international and first on her home ground at University Oval.

As well as outlining the level of despair circling around the camp, Bates revealed the squad have met to ensure they have "moved on", ahead of attempting to put things right against Bangladesh.

"Obviously, that close loss was a little bit heartbreaking for everyone getting so close and being disappointed at the end, but then we were on a plane to Dunedin and that's going to be the nature of this tournament for us," said the 34-year-old.

^{It was a contrast of emotions in Mount Maunganui (Michael Bradley/Getty Images)}

"The whole way through is that we play in - and the next day, we're on to a new venue. So I think it works in our favour.

"We're now in Dunedin and a different opposition and obviously, we talked about that game and some of the learnings we can take from it, but we're just going to move on and take one game at a time. And that's tomorrow with Bangladesh."

"Yeah, afterwards people probably saw we were pretty deflated. 

"And, obviously Fran Jonas she was pretty upset after the game and Katey Martin also knowing how close she got the team to winning that. 

"But we sort of got to the whole nature of this one, we had to have our bags out at 11pm.

"I think we don't have any pressure right now because this is the stage we were trying to show ourselves and because there are a lot of things that we can get on from here."

"And consistent with what this group's done all summer, we met for a quick catch up just before going to bed and made sure that we'd moved on and making sure that we stick together that’s what this group is about and enjoying each other's company.

"Immediately after people were upset, but we know how this group works, and we had to make sure that last night and today, we're bringing good vibes and that'll start again at training today."

Bangladesh came narrowly close to upstaging that dramatic opening game with a surprise result of their own, against South Africa.

Had it not been for Ayabonga Khaka taking 4 for 32 the tournament debutants may well have been celebrating their first competitive match on New Zealand soil with a victory.

Despite the vast chasm in quality between these two sides in terms of experience and world-class talent at their disposal, there is reason to believe that Bangladesh will prove a tough nut to crack.

Bangladesh went down against South Africa - but there were plenty of positives to draw on (Sanka Vidanagama/Getty Images)

It is important to consider the fearlessness of Nigar Sultana's side, who are using this tournament as a learning exercise as much as anything. Finishing off the bottom of the table, not least securing a victory, would be considered a major achievement.

Additionally, this is also a collective that are improving rapidly. Their upwards trajectory started with victory at the 2018 Asia Cup. Exposure to more top-level opposition - these will be their first ODIs against New Zealand, Australia and England - will surely only continue that.

"I think we don't have any pressure right now because this is the stage we were trying to show ourselves and because there are a lot of things that we can get on from here," said Sultana.

"So still, we do have a lot of chance to do well here and show our potential to the whole world.

"The coaches have talked to us about the [shortcomings] or mistakes that we have made in the last matches and we have tried to implement them on the net.

"We tried to correct them as much as possible and within that short period of time.

"Basically, that was it and we will sit down and talk again. We have another meeting before the match so that we can try to renew the team plan again against New Zealand."