England Women vs New Zealand W ‘White Ferns’ 4th ODI at Derby on 23rd September
It was skipper Heather Knight’s night. Scoring her 23rd ‘fifty’ and 2nd ‘ton’ in ODI, Knight took her team within a whisker of chasing down England Women’s highest ever run-chase. Success clinched the series with one game-in-hand.
Earlier, skipper Sophie Devine had told commentators that it was a ‘must-win’ match for ‘Ferns’ to keep the series alive. As mentioned below, with scores level mid-way through Leigh Kasperek’s ‘death’ over, Sophie Ecclestone was stumped by keeper Katey Martin but Leigh Kasperek’s ball was ruled ‘wide.’ Conceding one run for the ‘wide,’ victory was handed to England – not only for winning the match, but also for the ODI series win (3-1).
Broadcast live on SKY Sports TV, Youtube, commentators included Charles Dagnall, Adam Collins (NZ), Ebony Rainford Brent, Lydia Greenway and Charlotte Edwards. Also broadcast via cricket social media (Valkerie Baynes for ESPN-cric-info.)
*Before the match, ‘Ferns’ skipper Sophie Devine made two changes: Jess Kerr (for Molly Penfold) and Hannah Rowe (for Lea Tahuhu.) Skipper Heather Knight rotated bowlers Anya Shrubsole, Natalie Sciver and Freya Davies, (for Katherine Brunt, Kate Cross and Tash Farrant).
*’Ferns’ posted 244/8 with ‘fifties’ by Amy Satterthwaite (54) and Katey Martin (65*) who chalked-up her 7th ‘fifty’ in 90 ODI’s.
*After 10 overs power-play ‘Ferns’ were 35/3. All 3 wickets fell to Anya Shrubsole’s bowling. Suzie Bates (17) was ‘run out’; Maddy Green (0) was caught at ‘mid-on’ by Freya Davies for a 5th ball duck and Lauren Down’s (11) off-stump was skittled.
*At 89/3 commentator Adam Collins described ‘Ferns’ skipper Sophie Devine’s (41) ‘leg before’ dismissal as a ‘horrible review.’ *Amy Satterthwaite and Katey Martin added 84 runs for ‘Ferns’’ 5th wicket before Satterthwaite was clean-bowled by Charlie Dean.
*Collins added that Katey Martin ‘can seriously play’ as she swept to her 7th ‘fifty’ (from 65 balls) in ODIs. When Martin closed on 65* not out, ‘Ferns’ seemed assured of a win, unless England could set a new run-chase record.
*After 10 overs power-play ‘England’ were 49/0 (vs 35/3)
*Drama struck during the next over when Lauren Winfield-Hill drove hard at Lauren Down, who was substituted by Thamsyn Newton.
*Next over, Winfield-Hill (33), whom commentators said had ‘played well,’ was skittled by Hannah Rowe (4/47).
*Tammy Beaumont was caught behind 13 balls later, also off Hannah Rowe.
*Skipper Heather Knight (24 from 37) and Amy Jones (24 from 38) chalked up ‘fifty’ partnership during the 29th over; followed by Knight’s 23rd ‘fifty’ in 111 ODIs.
*Knight and Jones’ main partnership added 100 runs for England’s 4th wicket.
*Amy Jones (40 from 63) played a bizarre vertical shot over ‘leg-side,’ caught by Jess Kerr. *At 203/5, Heather Knight’s 2nd ODI century as skipper came from 104 balls (including 10 ‘fours).’ With support from Danni Wyatt (27 from 27), England needed only 6 runs to win.
*Bowler-turned batter Anya Shrubsole (6) drew scores level.
*Confusion struck when Sophie Ecclestone, needing to score one run from four balls, was stumped by Katey Martin, mid-way through Leigh Kasperek’s death over, but a ‘wide’ was called.
*White Ferns’ ‘Ferns’ elation turned to disappointment when Ecclestone’s stumping dismissal was reversed and ruled ‘not out’ (because of the ‘wide’): handing both the match and series win to England.
Result: England Women 245/7 beat ‘NZ White Ferns’ 244/8, by 3 wickets (with 3 balls remaining); taking the ODI series 3-1
NZ -W: 244/8 (50ov. 4.88 runs-per-over) Katey Martin 65*runs (from 83 balls), Amy Satterthwaite 54(86), Sophie Devine 41(48), Brooke Halliday 28(19), Suzie Bates 17(24), Hannah Rowe 15(14), Lauren Down 11(19); England bowling: Charlotte Dean 3/52, Anya Shrubsole 2/43, Freya Davies 2/46; Fow 1-24, 2-24, 3-33, 4-89, 5-173, 6-209, 7-216, 8-236; England -W: 245/7 (49.3/50 ov, 4.94 r-p-o) Heather Knight 101 (from 107 balls), Amy Jones 40(63), Lauren Winfield-Hill 33(46), Danni Wyatt 27(27), Tammy Beaumont 16(31), Natalie Sciver 11(14). NZ bowling: Hannh Rowe 4/47, Sophie Devine 3/55, Amy Satterthwaite 1/34; Fow 1-52, 2-59, 3-71, 4-171, 5-185, 6-237, 7-239.
Scorecard at: https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/new-zealand-women-tour-of-england-2021-1260090/england-women-vs-new-zealand-women-4th-odi-1260106/full-scorecard
Highlights at https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/58671690
5th and final ODI match takes place at Canterbury on September 26.
