Derby
This match showed the 50-over version of the game at its best.
England made a tentative start, Grace Scrivens edging Bree Illing’s first ball just past the keeper. Seren Smale went early, lbw playing across Illing’s left-arm swinger.
Davina Perrin celebrated the 50 coming up in the 12th over with a quite magnificent cover drive off a wide ball from Emma Black. Scrivens and Perrin brought up the first of three 50- partnerships, the captain favouring shots either side of point, Perrin hitting the ball wherever it deserved.
Black, bowling round the wicket to the left-hander, delivered from beyond the return crease without penalty; there was no all-seeing eye to help the umpire. As the first 20 overs were completed, the run-rate edged above 4, and we had yet to see any spin.
Flora Devonshire came on in the 22nd with her left-arm slows. She was inaccurate to start but nearly had Scrivens caught off a mistimed pull. Perrin fell in bizarre circumstances. Devonshire bowled three wides and a dot to her. Perhaps relieved to reach a ball, she lofted into the covers and was caught by James (25).
With Jodi Grewcock’s entry England now had two left-handers at the crease. The last time that happened?
Scrivens reached her 50 in the 25th off 85 balls. She celebrated with a six over mid-wicket, a rare leg-side shot.
A second 50-partnership came, with Jodie Grewcock looking neat and prosperous. The next moment the total reached 150-2. Illing, who had made the early breakthrough, wasn’t reintroduced till the 37th. Why not? after bowling a leg-side wide she found the inside of Scrivens’ bat for a catch behind (84/122).
Freya Kemp seemed the ideal batter to exploit the position, but a third left-hander! – does the ICC permit this excess?
Much happened in the 20th. Hucker was called for a no-ball; I have to assume for breaking the return crease. Her delivery came from mid-off. Kemp deposited the free-hit over the rope.
The 200 arrived in the 41st (201-3), and the scoring rate was nearing 5 rpo. Grewcock’s 50 saw another 50 partnership registered. She was repaying the selectors’ faith in her; she was to complete an outstanding match.
She surrendered her wicket in a good cause, lofting to long-on. (67/63) That brought Charis Pavely in, a fourth leftie. Kemp went to her 50 with a typical smite over long-on. She must possess the longest bat-swing in England.
Then crucially Amie Hucker’s last over, the 50th, went 4-2-4-2-4-4, all to Pavely!
The Reply
Georgia Plimmer cut Alexa Stonehouse’s second ball for four. She treated Grace Thompson the same way.
In the fifth over Thompson bowled Plimmer with a beautiful yorker. In the seventh Stonehouse removed Watkin’s middle stump (22-2); the umpire went for a walk to fetch the bails. The run-rate was already lagging well behind.
Stonehouse lifted a ball past the outside of Bella James’ bat, but she replied with a pull for six off a short one. Thompson, this team’s answer to Lauren Bell, kept her line on off-stump and outside, tempting the batters into a play and miss.
At the 10-over powerplay NZ had mustered only 39-2.
A first bowling change in the 14th over brought immediate success: Phoebe Turner found the inside edge of Emma McLeod’s bat for Rhianna Southby to complete the job.
The Derby track has never been spinner-friendly, and Tilly Corteen-Coleman couldn’t find any turn. She wasn’t at her most accurate, so after four overs, she was replaced by Pavely who was tidier. Scrivens next turned to Grewcock’s leg-spin. Her second ball drew Izzy Sharp down the pitch for Southby to claim a neat stumping. (93-4) At once Grewcock was offered a slip; she responded with a wicket maiden, including four false shots.
James reached a creditable 50 off 64 balls, needing to become more creative in her shot selection to keep the board ticking over.
England needed to break her partnership with Gaze. Scrivens turned to Stonehouse, but this second spell proved expensive. When she tried herself, she conceded 14, including a huge six from Gaze.
That brought up a Kiwi 50-partnership, but they were still way behind the asking rate. 19 off Stonehouse’s next over altered the balance, and England’s fielding was lapsing under pressure.
Now the game came to look more like a T20 tussle: NZ needing only 1i8 off 96 with two highly experienced bats at the crease. For the moment, all their risky shots were proving safe. Turner returned and was hit all around the ground.
Gaze reached a splendid 50 off 38 balls. The next moment James played one scoop too many, skying a simple catch to short-third (80/86). Had England reached the tail yet? Rowe gave a quick reply, hitting Turner’s next ball for four.
The 200 came up at the end of the 37th. The visitors were taking all manner of risks to squeeze more runs out (scoops and sweeps galore). The hosts had to take wickets – but how?
Scrivens persevered with TCC; Gaze persevered with her sweeps to leg. Eleven runs. Thompson had her second spell; could she prove more miserly? An overthrow helped NZ add 11.
There were three bowlers who had proved economical first time round: Thompson, Pavely and Grewcock.
It was Grewcock who did the trick, having Gaze caught at deep mid-wicket for an outstanding 81 off only 59. Netherland’s loss has been NZ’s gain: she was born in Haarlem.
Thompson’s return was another success, Devonshire holing out to cover. Thompson, tall and slim, has old-fashioned virtues: she bowls a full straight length, her height offering occasional lift. The 42nd over brought one run and that wicket. Had the game swung at last in England’s favour?
The 250 arrived in the 46th. After 48 the run-rates were identical, but not the wickets conceded. Black took responsibilty here, choosing her shots carefully and finding gaps. For all her efforts, her side still needed 19 off the last over. Pavely had managed 18 earlier; twice in one match?
Rowe thumped Turner for two fours to add a final 50 partnership, but a third whack was caught by Kemp. Nine off two proved too many.
A close-run thing!
Scores:
England 297-4
New Zealand 291-9
England win by 6 runs
Teams
England
Grace Scrivens (captain), Seren Smale, Davina Perrin, Jodi Grewcock, Freya Kemp, Charis Pavely, Rhianna Southby (w-k), Alexa Stonehouse, Grace Thompson, Phoebe Turner, Tilly Corteen- Coleman
New Zealand
Georgia Plimmer, Emma McLeod, Jess Watkin, Bella James (captain), Izzy Sharp, Izzy Gaze (w-k), Hannah Rowe, Flora Devonshire, Emma Black, Amie Hucker, Bree Illing
This was an enthralling opening to the six-match series. Paveley’s devastating 18 of the last over was three times the final margin.
