But the classy White Ferns opener was unable to guide her side to victory in a one-day warm-up match against England A in Derby on Monday.
Bates made a patient 70 from 110 deliveries and fellow Otago player Katey Martin chipped in with 52 from 56.
But the White Ferns were bowled out in the final over for 223.
England A overhauled the target with four wickets to spare and 14 balls remaining.
While the result did not go the White Ferns’ way, the visitors can take heart from Bates’ performance.
She injured her shoulder while playing for the Adelaide Strikers in a women’s Big Bash match on November 10. She needed corrective surgery and had not played since.
‘‘It is always nice to get a win and we went close there at the end,’’ Bates said.
‘‘But it was nice to spend some time out in the middle after such a long break, and have a couple of partnerships with Lauren Down and Katey Martin.
‘‘And all the bowlers got to have a decent bowl and the game went down to the wire, so there were plenty of positives.’’
Hannah Rowe and Amy Satterthwaite picked up a couple of wickets apiece.
Bates said near the end of her innings she started to get a bit of cramp and the innings was not as free-flowing as she is able to play.
‘‘I’d like to show some more intent from now on but it was the first innings in a while and good to get a start.’’
The series against England gets under way late next week with the first of three twenty20s, followed by five one-dayers.
