NZ ‘White Ferns’ beat England at their third attempt [New Zealand Tour – Third ODI, Dunedin (University Oval) on 28 February 2021]
As seen on BT Sports2 TV and website Live Cricket Australia, England elected to bat first, posting a ‘half-decent’ score of 220. Ferns Ex-captain Amy Satterthwaite (119*runs off 128 balls) and Amelia Kerr (72* off 88) staged a 173-run partnership. That brought the White Ferns right back into the game for a cliff-hanger ending, albeit played behind closed doors.
Before the match, England’s Natalie Sciver told Sports reporters in Dunedin that England hoped to ‘wrap-up’ victory today. Taking one wicket, Natalie Sciver herself, still needs one more ODI dismissal to chalk-up fifty wickets in ODIs; and needs to score another 27 runs to pass the 2000-run benchmark.
*England’s Captain Heather Knight posted 60 (off 80 balls), in a century partnership with Tammy Beaumont (88* runs from 113 balls) Beaumont carried her bat as England’s batting subsided.
Previously, Tammy Beaumont became England’s sixth woman to accumulate more than 2500 ODI runs (now 2618) England’s third highest score was by Amy Jones (15 off 22) who passed her 1000 runs ODI milestone during the crucial previous match that secured England’s series win. *White Ferns were once again peppered by tactical ‘dot’ balls, as England’s pace attack (Natalie Sciver and Freya Davies) removed both of Ferns openers within seven overs. Ferns posted 21-2 after ten overs of ‘powerplay.’ Thereafter, England’s bowling lost momentum – allowing Ferns back into the match. An early warning sign was an inadequate margin of safety with similar scores at the Hundred ball benchmark at 16.4 overs (51/2 played 64/1.)
*Amy Satterthwaite (119* runs from 128 balls) proved she was still a game-changer, following Captain Sophie Devine’s (15 from 20) departure: ‘leg before’ to Kate Cross – after striking two ‘fours.’ Remarkably, only a matter of weeks ago, Sophie Devine bagged the fastest woman’s century in T20 history (36 balls) in the NZ ‘Super-Smash’ league; beating Deandre Dottin’s previous fastest century record, by two balls.
*Amy Satterthwaite staged a decisive 172-run partnership with Amelia Kerr to clinch victory.
Result: New Zealand Women beat England Women by 7 wickets. England win ODI series 2-1;
England 220 (47.5 overs) Tammy Beaumont 88* Heather Knight 60; Amelia Kerr 4/42, Sophie Devine 2/26, Jess Kerr 2/27, Brooke Halliday 1/17, Hayley Jensen 1/32; Fow 6, 115, 140, 161, 169, 183, 190, 215, 220, 220. New Zealand 223-3 (46.4 overs) Amy Satterthwaite 119* Amelia Kerr 72*; Freya Davies 1/33; Natalie Sciver 1/35; Kate Cross 1/40. Fow 13,15, 51
Scorecards – England Women at https://live.cricket.com.au/match/2750/50181/new-zealand-women-vs-england-women-new-zealand-v-england-odis-womens/scorecard
New Zealand Women at https://live.cricket.com.au/match/2750/50181/new-zealand-women-vs-england-women-new-zealand-v-england-odis-womens/scorecard
Highlights at https://live.cricket.com.au/match/2750/50181/new-zealand-women-vs-england-women-new-zealand-v-england-odis-womens/highlights
Next match: T20I series – First two matches in Wellington, played without fans: behind closed doors; Auckland struck out (Covid). No decision taken on Final match, Tauranga (7 March.)
