A new star was launched into cricket's firmament in New Zealand today.

Twenty-one-year-old Haidee Tiffen, one of the first women players to be included in New Zealand Cricket's (NZC) Academy this year, produced an innings fit to rank among some of the finest in the women's game in this country.

An all-rounder whose previous highest score was 42 not out against England earlier this year, went to the wicket with New Zealand 126/3 in the 38th over of its CricInfo Women's World Cup pool match against India.

When she walked off at the end of 50 overs, she was 50 not out off 36 balls and having helped Anna O'Leary add 98 runs off 72 balls to see the CLEAR White Ferns finish with 224/5.

An old girl of Timaru Girls' High School, Tiffen admitted she was motivated by the presence of the School's 1st XI as they, and three other semi-finalists for the national girls' schools' competition the Yoplait Cup, took in some of the World Cup action before starting their own tournament on Sunday.

"I have been where they are now and I wanted to show them what they could achieve if they wanted," Tiffen said.

Any coach would have been heartened by the demonstration of between-the-wickets running that Tiffen and O'Leary provided.

The last time they batted, against Sri Lanka, they were at sixes and sevens until they sorted themselves out and produced a partnership of 137.

Today's effort was an improvement on that. Such was their speed, and timing, that the Indians wilted under the pressure they mounted. And the more they wilted, the more the pair took advantage.

It was thrilling cricket and given their status as two of the younger players in the side, it is extremely exciting for the future of the New Zealand game.

Both players hit the ball hard, but while O'Leary is more inclined to go along the ground, and more often directly to fielders, Tiffen takes the short route. She goes over the top.

As New Zealand captain Emily Drumm said: "It was so well executed. The Indians are not used to batsmen hitting the ball inside out and they didn't know what to do about it."

"It was an absolutely awesome innings.

"It was one of the most special ones I will ever see," she said.

Debbie Hockley, who scored her 4000th One Day International run when notching her first 50 of the tournament, said: "It was a gem. It is such a thrill for her team-mates to see someone bat like that. And it really helped Anna.

"It was brilliant, and good for the people watching.

"It was really important we had a good game today and we have to absolutely make sure we win our next two games," she said.

Hockley was also pleased with the way O'Leary has developed. A player being groomed to fill the sort of role that Hockley has made her own on the world scene, she felt her form has been most impressive.

"She must be thrilled with how her tournament has gone.

"She's proved that she can bat through an innings and if you have someone who can do that, and others who can bat around her, then it works really well," she said.

© CricInfo