England women v New Zealand women – ICC Women’s World T20 Warm-Up, MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai
England women won the toss and elected to bowl
New Zealand women – 130-6 (Katherine Brunt 2-15, Sophie Devine 40, Suzie Bates 38)
20 overs
England women – 131-6 (Lea Tahuhu 2-10, Sarah Taylor 51)
20 overs
England women won by 4 wickets
Sarah Taylor struck her fourth consecutive sprint-format half-century before Natalie Sciver hit the winning run from the final ball of the match to help England record a dramatic four-wicket ICC Women’s World Twenty20 warm-up victory over New Zealand in Chennai.
Taylor, who cracked scores of 74, 66 and 60 during the recent 2-1 series win over South Africa, continued her fine form with 51 from 52 deliveries.
The 26-year-old set up the chase of 131 with a 75-run alliance alongside Charlotte Edwards before the experienced pair both departed during a mini collapse that left 30 runs required from 23 balls.
Lydia Greenway contributed an unbeaten 23 and Danni Wyatt hit 12 until she was dismissed from the penultimate ball with one run still needed, leaving Sciver to club the final delivery over extra cover and secure the win.
Edwards’ side, having stepped in to play today due to Pakistan’s delayed arrival, take on New Zealand again tomorrow.
England, led by fit-again Katherine Brunt, restricted New Zealand to 130 for six after they were asked to make first use.
Brunt, recently hampered by a back problem, returned impressive figures of 2-15 from four overs while Anya Shrubsole and Rebecca Grundy took 1-17 and 1-24 respectively.
Brunt struck in the third over, having Rachel Priest caught behind, before the White Ferns regrouped courtesy of a 65-run stand between Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine.
Devine, having seen Bates loop a Grundy delivery to backward point on 38, took the score along to 89 for two after 15 overs.
She departed for 40, bowled by a brilliant Natasha Farrant inswinger, and Sara McGlashan followed soon after courtesy of a brilliant diving catch at backward point by Greenway off Brunt.
Amy Satterthwaite provided late impetus with 22 off 14 balls, including two fours and the second maximum of the innings, but she was one of two wickets to fall from the final two deliveries.
Wyatt took a smart catch at backward square to dismiss her off Shrubsole’s bowling before Greenway ran out Katey Martin.
England’s run-chase started poorly as Amy Jones pulled Lea Tahuhu to square-leg, but Edwards and Taylor steadied the ship, the skipper anchoring the innings while the latter again produced her trademark ramp shots.
They were coasting along until Edwards holed out to deep midwicket for 28, the first of four wickets for 26 runs, with Georgia Elwiss mis-timing a pull, Taylor bowled by Bates and Tammy Beaumont stumped advancing down the pitch.
Greenway and Wyatt took nine off the penultimate over to leave 10 to win off the final six balls and despite Bates bowling Wyatt, Sciver sealed the win in style.
Report courtesy of the ECB
