England Women v New Zealand 1st T20I at Chelmsford on 1st September (night)
England’s Tammy Beaumont needed one boundary short for her century, but was caught out from the penultimate innings ball. Posting her 2nd highest score in T20I, POTM, Beaumont told player-turned-commentator Isa Guha that she’d been ‘waiting to (make a high score) for a while.’ Beaumont made over half the runs in England’s record score versus ‘White Ferns,’ setting the visitors a record run-chase challenge. Commentators added afterwards that Tammy Beaumont played a ‘Super Innings.’
As seen on BBC2TV (commentators included Isa Guha, Alison Mitchell, Alex Hartley, Kate Cross and Tymal Mills); also cricket social media (Alan Gardner for ESPN-cric-info) England made a dream start in their 1st T20I; having previously beaten the ‘White Ferns’ down under 3-0 (during March 2021.) Commentators agreed it was a ‘stunning performance’ by England, skippered for the 2nd time by Natalie Sciver. ‘Ferns’ skipper Sophie Devine conceded that England had ‘outplayed’ her team, who put in ‘a great fight from the tail.’
*England lost Danni Wyatt (14 runs from 8 balls) during the power-play, going down the wicket to Leigh Kasperek, whom she’d hit for 3 consecutive ‘fours.’ By mid-way (10 overs) England were 74-2, having just lost skipper Natalie Sciver (14 from 16) the team making every effort to keep Tammy Beaumont ‘on strike’ to make a high score.
*Tammy Beaumont’s ‘fifty’ was chalked-up during the 13th over, including 6 ‘fours.’ The following over, with Beaumont’s score on 65, ‘Ferns’ skipper Sophie Devine dropped a catch from Amy Satterthwaite’s bowling the 14th over. Beaumont had a second lucky escape during the 17th over (also from Satterthwaite’s bowling) when dropped again by Devine, having progressed her score to 82.
*Facing the penultimate innings ball, Tammy Beaumont (97 from 65) attempted a reverse-scoop off Hayley Jensen to short third, where Brooke Halliday took the catch. Sophia Dunkley (23* from 17) put away the final ball for ‘four,’ leaving Emma Lamb on debut, arriving on the pitch but not having to face a solitary ball.
*White Ferns lost both openers cheaply at 4/2. Skipper Sophie Devine (2) found Tash Farrant quite unplayable: ‘leg before’ to Farrant’s sixth ball. Similarly, Suzie Bates (1) found Katherine Brunt unplayable, clean bowled two balls later by Brunt’s 8th delivery. After 6 overs’ power-play, White Ferns were 35/2 (versus England’s 47/1.)
*Amy Satterthwaite and newbie Maddy Green put on 48 runs for the 3rd wicket before Green (19) was caught by Tash Farrant, diving-in from ‘cow corner.’ Farrant later told commentators that she would always go for tricky catches and felt ‘really good’ (returning to play for England after 3 years ‘in the wilderness’ – without a player’s contract.)
*Once Amy Satterthwaite (43 from 31) was out during the 13th over, England seemed reasonably certain of a win as the run-rate escalated yo-yoed around two-runs-per ball. Hayley Jensen (16 from 11) and Thamsyn Newton (14 from 12) and other tail-enders ‘put up a great fight.’
Finally, England won by a healthy margin-of-safety with all six bowlers taking at least one wicket each.
Result England Women 184-4 beat New Zealand Women 138 by 46 runs
England W 184/4 (20 ov 9.2 runs-per-over); Tammy Beaumont 97(65), Amy Jones 31(15), Sophia Dunkley 23*(17), Danni Wyatt 14(8) Natalie Sciver 14(16); NZ bowling: Hayley Jensen 2/26, Amy Satterthwaite 1/31, Leigh Kasperek 1/54; Fow: 1-31, 2-74, 3-127, 4-180
New Zealand W 138 All out (18.5 overs, 7.32 rpo); Amy Satterthwaite 43(31), Maddy Green 19(18), Hayley Jensen 16(11), Thamsyn Newton 14(12), Jess Kerr 12*(8); England bowling: Katherine Brunt 2/9, Sophie Ecclestone 2/24, Sarah Glenn 2/24, Mady Villiers 1/17, Tash Farrant 1/24, Natalie Sciver 1/31; Fow: 1-4, 2-4, 3-52, 4-67, 5-70, 6-82, 7-98, 8-116, 9-133, 10-138.
Commentary at https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/new-zealand-women-tour-of-england-2021-1260090/england-women-vs-new-zealand-women-1st-t20i-1260100/full-scorecard
Match scorecard at https://www.icc-cricket.com/match/31732#scorecard
Next match: 2nd T20I at Hove on 4th September https://www.icc-cricket.com/match/31733#teams
