She has already set one personal landmark in this 2017 tournament as the first individual century maker as her crisp unbeaten 106 against Sri Lanka set up a comfortable victory.

Although others have passed the milestone of 100 caps, Bates will become the first to have done so and also represented her country at the Olympic Games, as long as she does not pick up an injury before the game at the County Ground.

Bates was a member of the ‘’Tall Ferns’’ basketball team at the Beijing 2008 Games and played in a group stage win over Mali. 

However. New Zealand lost to host nation China, Czech Republic, Spain and the eventual gold medallists United States as they failed to progress from the groups. 

By this time, she was had also become an international in cricket and in 2009, she was part of the team who reached the World Cup final, losing by four-wickets to England. 

Looking back to then, Bates said she did not expect to make a career from sport.

‘’I was at University and cricket was a bit of hobby," she said.

"When I started, not just as a cricketer but as a girl who loved sport, I never really thought it was going to be a career. 

"I didn’t see it going professional.

‘’Now a dozen of us do it 10 months a year and get paid for it.

"I can’t remember where the last 10 years have gone. 

"It means I’ve been doing something right.’’

In her 99 previous ODI appearances, Bates has scored eight centuries and has a batting average of 42.32.

Action in the ICC Women's World Cup is set to continue until July 23.