Suzie Bates blasted 79 not out on her home ground of Dunedin as New Zealand brushed off their opening match loss to West Indies by earning a nine-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2022.

Bates also passed 1,000 World Cup runs in a 108-run partnership with Amelia Kerr as the White Ferns chased down 141 in a rain-reduced match on the South Island.

Bangladesh were put in to bowl by New Zealand after a rain delay that lasted four hours but made a bright start.

However, Bangladesh had slipped to 81 for three after 15 overs, their positive start undone by losing three for 21.

Bangladesh eventually reached 140 for eight from 27 overs after a long delay.

New Zealand were always on top of the chase, knocking off the runs in exactly 20 overs to earn their first win of the home World Cup.

New Zealand's start was a little more sedate even as the rain began to fall again, Sophie Devine facing the first over from Alam with Bates at the other end having walked out on her home ground.

Bates was able to have a giggle with Alam as the seamer pulled out of her run-up when she had already begun inching down the track ready for a big heave.

With the powerplay over, the White Ferns were behind Bangladesh at the same stage on 29-0 and then lost Devine as she rocked back and missed a swing at a Khatun delivery and was bowled for 16.

Out came Amelia Kerr and her and Bates steadied the run chase with the fifty-partnership coming up just after the halfway mark after a no ball.

A slow over was not what New Zealand wanted as the rain set in with 20 overs needed for a result to count, but then Bates started motoring.

Her fifty came up in the next over, a 12th ODI half-century brought up in 51 balls, and a first chance to raise the bat in a New Zealand jersey at her home ground.

She was still playing with fire and should have been gone on 58 but keeper Sultana couldn't hold on to the wet ball to take the bails off with Bates way out of her ground.

With the first ball of the 19th over, Bates reached a remarkable milestone as her 75 runs took her past 1000 runs in Women's Cricket World Cups, becoming only the second White Fern to do so after Debbie Hockley.

With New Zealand moving to 135 for one, it was only a matter of time before the win was sealed.

And it was Amelia Kerr who got them there, striking the ball for four to end on 47 not out, with Bates down the other end on an unbeaten 79 having shared a magnificent 108-partnership to earn New Zealand a first win at their home World Cup after losing a close match to the West Indies.

Scores in brief

New Zealand beat Bangladesh at University Oval, Dunedin by nine wickets

Bangladesh 140/8 in 27.0 overs (Fargana Hoque Pinky 52, Shamima Sultana 33; Amy Satterthwaite 3/25, Hayley Jensen 1/18)

New Zealand 145/1 in 20.0 overs (Suzie Bates 79 not out, Amelia Kerr 47 not out; Salma Khatun 1/34, Lata Mondol 0/9)

Player of the Match: Suzie Bates (New Zealand)