Source: Julian Thompson

England Women celebrate winning a game of two halves

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A Match Of Two Halves – England Women celebrate Another Win [New Zealand Tour – First T20 International, Wellington (Regional Stadium) on 3 March 2021]

As seen on BT Sports TV and live on website Live Cricket Australia, England Women put the White Ferns in to bat and bowled them out for a meagre 96 – with two balls to spare. Crucially a limp display by Ferns star players (Sophie Devine, Amy Satterthwaite and Amelia Kerr) let them down: possibly repeating previous ODI mistakes.

Registering a convincing seven wicket win, England got home comfortably with a scoring rate a whisker above one-run-per-ball, with four overs to spare.

*Ferns captain Sophie Devine (2) was caught by returner Sophia Dunkley and former captain Amy Satterthwaite (2) was caught by newbie Freya Davies – both early dismissals from Natalie Sciver’s seam (2/28)

*Lack of production by star players reduced the Ferns to 38/4 by the half-way point – when England’s spin-twins Sarah Glenn and Sophie Ecclestone (2/18) both took wickets followed by dot ball maiden overs.

*Sarah Glenn (2/11) was awarded POTM for dismissing Ferns opener Hayley Jensen (13) who was caught by Mady Villiers; and Maddy Green (3) whom Sarah Glenn clean bowled. *The match swung England’s way following two dismissals (Hayley Jensen and Amelia Kerr) within five balls. Dismissing Amelia Kerr (14) whom Sophie Ecclestone caught-and-bowled; Ecclestone claimed credit for newbie Brooke Halliday’s dismissal (1):- stumped by keeper Amy Jones. *Only Ferns keeper Katey Martin (36 runs off 32 balls) stood-up as remaining tail-enders’ wickets went cheaply – Katherine Brunt (2/13) nailing the last two tailenders during her final ‘death’ over: when Katey Martin was eventually stumped by Amy Jones and Jess Kerr was run out by Tammy Beaumont.

*Making their reply, England’s openers Danielle Wyatt (33 off 26 balls) and Tammy Beaumont (25 off 31) nudged the score exactly ten runs ahead without loss, after six overs of powerplay (43-0 vs 33-2.) *Leigh Kasperek was the pick of White Ferns bowlers: dismissing ‘Dan and Tam’ to catches from mis-timed shots. Captain Heather Knight (0) was then run out three balls later (for a second ball duck – also off Kasperek) *Finally, Natalie Sciver (26 runs off 25 balls) and Amy Jones (12 off 14) saw England safely home for a convincing win without further loss:- with seven wickets to spare

Result

England Women 99-3 (16 overs) beat New Zealand Women 96 (19.4 overs) by 7 wickets *New Zealand 96 (19.4 overs) Katey Martin 36, Amelia Kerr 14; Sarah Glenn 2/11; Katherine Brunt 2/13; Sophie Ecclestone 2/18; Natalie Sciver 2/28; Mady Villiers 1/16; Fow 5,10,37,38,48,61,67,78,95,96 *England 99-3 (16 overs) Danni Wyatt 33, Natalie Sciver 26*,Tammy Beaumont 25, Amy Jones 12*; Leigh Kasperek 2/24 Fow 59,66,67.

Scorecards (click on ‘England’ or ‘New Zealand’) at https://live.cricket.com.au/match/2751/50182/new-zealand-women-vs-england-women-new-zealand-v-england-t20is-womens/scorecard

Highlights at Live Cricket Australia  https://live.cricket.com.au/match/2751/50182/new-zealand-women-vs-england-women-new-zealand-v-england-t20is-womens/highlights

Next Match: Wellington, North Island 5 March (previously advertised as Auckland, but relocated because of Covid concerns)