A tale of two collapses
Hare’s breadth. Skin of teeth. Eye of... Shrubsole?
England squeak through at the last, the experienced campaigner Anya Shrubsole seeing them over the line with the bat (this time) after it looked like New Zealand were going to pull off a very damp heist in Auckland.
Both sides were far from perfect, after a solid start that saw them reach 96-1 New Zealand were disappointed to end up bowled out with an over to spare, having crawled to 203. In response England were in command at 176-4 and Nat Sciver set at the crease, they then lost five wickets for 23 runs. Cue frayed nerves and a good old peer down the barrel of a World Cup exit.
They creaked over the line with one wicket to spare and will face bottom of the table Pakistan at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Thursday for another MUST WIN game. They don’t make it easy for themselves, or us for that matter.
That’s it from me, thanks for your company and goodnight/morning/whatever it is. Bye!
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England captain Heather Knight was visibly relieved, blowing out her cheeks she said it was, “Amazing to get this win... but credit to the Kiwis, they fought so hard. Today was all about the win and luckily we did that.
“It was nice to get over the line, the bowlers were outstanding, but we have to be better and one of the top order has to go on and do the job...
“There is a bit of relief, we will reflect on what we can do better and we can make it easier but the main thing was getting the win.
“We are building quite nicely and players are performing well, Kate Cross was outstanding, Nat Sciver and the spinners were good. It still has not clicked but hopefully that is to come, and we have two massive must-win games to come.”
Losing (and injured) New Zealand captain Sophie Devine was rueful, “The girls are gutted but that’s cricket. We lost 3 games by 2-3 wickets or a couple of runs here and there... we have one more game left and we will get up for for it as it will be our last opportunity to make New Zealand proud.”
They can be proud of the way they battled back into this match, especially given the injury blows to Devine and Lea Tahuhu - who limped off after just a 4.4 overs but not before she bowled Tammy Beaumont to notch up her 93rd ODI wicket and become New Zealand’s leading ODI wicket taker.
Nat Sciver is POTM and is in “shock!”
“It’s crazy we got over the line when we probably should not have. I am in shock, there have been so many close games in this tournament.
I knew I had to do most of the scoring and stay out there for a long time. It was tough bowling in the windy conditions, and a difficult wicket to find consistency.”
The winning moment! England beat New Zealand by 1 wicket 🏏 #CWC22 pic.twitter.com/8gluy20lhr
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) March 20, 2022
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One way to put it. Still a win’s a win. (It is!)
An inexplicable, diabolical collapse that very nearly ended England's World Cup chances. They're still alive, for which they have Anya Shrubsole's relative composure to thank.
— Nick Friend (@NickFriend1) March 20, 2022
This is unbearable #ENGvNZ #CWC22
— Isa Guha (@isaguha) March 20, 2022
England win by 1 wicket!
What happened there then? England were cruising and then went to pieces. Hard luck New Zealand, they did extremely well to push them to the wire. Tears and relief for England, they’ve been through the ringer in the last half an hour. They march stumble on in this World Cup.
Shrubsole gets it away for a single and England win!
If a wicket falls now it’s a SUPER OVER. England v New Zealand. In a World Cup!
Halliday is on to bowl. Shrubsole drives her for four!! SCORES ARE LEVEL
47th over: England 199-9 (Dean 0, Shrubsole 2) Shrubsole digs out two full balls and then squeezes away a single. 21 year old Charlie Dean on strike. Mackay slides one down the leg side for a freebie wide. 5 needed off 18 balls for England. New Zealand need ONE wicket.
46th over: England 197-9 (Dean 0, Shrubsole 1) Anya Shrubsole and Charlie Dean are England’s last hope. Both sides have two reviews left. Shrubsole takes a single to keep strike.
WICKET! Brunt run out (Martin) 6
BRUNT IS RUN OUT! England have collapsed from 175-4 to 195-9! Brunt pulls one into the leg side and they run one but some mad running leaves her diving full length trying to get back into her ground... but she’s well short! New Zealand jsut need one more! England need 8 runs. Breathe!
45th over: England 194-8 (Brunt 4, Dean 0) Two wickets for the over for Mackay, she’s bowled her side back into contention. Who is going to hold their nerve?! Great to watch. Tension in spades.
WICKET! Cross lbw b Mackay (England 194-8)
Skidding on and three reds mean Cross has to go! Another close finish here! 2 wickets needed for New Zealand - 10 runs for England.
WICKET! Ecclestone b Mackay (England 192-7)
Drag on! New Zealand have another! They need three more, England need 12 runs.
44th over: England 191-6 (Brunt 4, Ecclestone 0) A wicket maiden for Jess Kerr and she very nearly has another! A length ball zips off the seam and beats everything to skuttle away for four! Cripes.
WICKET! Sciver b J Kerr 61 (England 187 -6)
The rain falls and the balls skids on, Sciver missing a cut shot and the zinger bails light up the gloom. A fantastic innings but New Zealand still have a sniff.
43rd over: England 187-5 (Sciver 61, Brunt 4) Sciver is cool and collected, working the ball around and happy to take the singles. Brunt is slightly more skittish, a sweep is top edged over the keeper, lands safe and takes England one run closer. 17 needed off 42 balls.
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42nd over: England 182-5 (Sciver 59, Brunt 1) Sciver works Rowe away for three with a clip through mid-wicket and Brunt gets off the mark with a jab to point.
Calm through the chase, Nat Sciver reaches fifty as England march closer to victory! #CWC22 pic.twitter.com/G3jmJYtgIx
— ICC (@ICC) March 20, 2022
Nat Sciver is an accomplished sweeper of spin. She averages 72 whilst playing the shot with a strike rate of 186.
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) March 20, 2022
She has scored 85 runs against spin in this WC, being dismissed just once. Her most productive shot against spin has been the sweep (27 runs) @IGcom #NZvENG #CWC22 pic.twitter.com/MNYbZn32bY
Wicket! Dunkley b Mackay 33 (England 176-5)
A twist?! Dunkley plays down the wrong line and is castled. She played well for her 33. Still a bit to do for England. 28 needed off 54 balls. New Zealand need to take five very quick wickets.
41st over: England 176-5 (Sciver 55, Brunt 0)
40th over: England 173-4 (Sciver 53, Dunkley 32) Fifty for Nat Sciver! Her slowest ODI fifty, off 92 balls, but one of her most important. She latches onto a short ball from Rowe and swivel-pulls it away to the fence. She’s keeping England in this World Cup.
39th over: England 166-4 (Sciver 47, Dunkley 31) Three runs off Frances Mackay with little risk. New Zealand need to break this partnership. England are well ahead of the Duckworth Lewis of they do go off for rain, right now it looks like the ground staff aren’t too fussed and the players are stopping out there.
38th over: England 163-4 (Sciver 45, Dunkley 30) A bit dark and gloomy in Auckland. Spatters of rain landing on the camera lens. Hanna Rowe is back on to bowl, she has four overs in the can. A bouncer is deemed too short and given as a wide. The lissom bowler then serves up another short ball and Dunkley leans back and crunches it away through point for four. Dunkley has been impressive here, busy, rotating strike and putting the bad ball away.
37th over: England 157-4 (Sciver 44, Dunkley 26) Fifty partnership between Sciver and Dunkley. They’ve done really well here to calm the nerves and eke England closer. 47 needed from 78 balls for England.
36th over: England 153-4 (Sciver 43, Dunkley 23) Amelia Kerr into her final over. She drops short with her first ball and Sciver cross-bats for four. A couple of singles off the rest of the over means Kerr finishes with 0-41 from her 10.
35th over: England 147-4 (Sciver 38, Dunkley 22) On we go. 15 overs left.
34th over: England 143-4 (Sciver 36, Dunkley 21) Kerrs on at both ends. Amelia keeps it tight with just a couple coming off her over. Beat that, sis.
61 needed off 96 balls for England. Six scalps for New Zealand.
33rd over: England 141-4 (Sciver 36, Dunkley 19) Sciver steps away to give herself room and slots Jess Kerr over wide mid-off to pick up four. She’s doing her best to give Greenway her wish... but almost gives it away off the final ball - a mistimed flick resulting in a leading edge that loops into the air for what seems like an age but there isn’t a fielder close enough to swoop in for the catch.
32nd over: England 137-4 (Sciver 32, Dunkley 19) The excellent Lydia Greenway on commentary wants England to chase this down in a clinical way rather than spluttering over the line... or succumbing to the pressure of the tournament situation. This feels like the crucial partnership for both sides. Jess Kerr is coming into the attack from the other end.
31st over: England 134-4 (Sciver 30, Dunkley 18) Fantastic over for England as Sciver launches Halliday over mid-on for four. A single brings Dunkley on strike and she climbs into the final ball before drinks - smearing it straight for a 72 metre SIX!
30th over: England 123-4 (Sciver 25, Dunkley 12) Kerr offers Dunkley too much width and she accepts with a thudding cut shot for four runs. A wide down the leg side is followed by an inside edge that squirts away fine and the batters come back for a couple. 20 overs to go. This feels edgy. A fox has started making horrible noises right outside my window. A sign? An omen? Of what? Dunno.
29th over: England 116-4 (Sciver 25, Dunkley 6) Halliday hops in for another and there’s just a couple off it.
England need 88 runs from 126 balls. New Zealand need six wickets.
28th over: England 114-4 (Sciver 24, Dunkley 5) A risky paddle sees Dunkley get off the mark, she then goes hard at a full ball and gets it through the field to pick up four. England pick up eight runs from the over, can these two batters get them close?
Feels like we could be, yep.
We’re going down to the wire again, aren’t we? 🙈 #CWC22
— Raf Nicholson (@RafNicholson) March 20, 2022
27th over: England 106-4 (Sciver 22, Dunkley 0) Brooke Halliday it was who got the breakthrough, whirling away in all her wrong-footed delightfulness. She sends down a wicket-maiden. An inspired bowling change. Sophia Dunkley is the new batter.
Wicket! Jones ct Satterthwaite b Halliday 1 (England 106-4)
Poor shot from Jones. She limply pulls a full toss straight to short mid-wicket. Game on!
26th over: England 106-3 (Sciver 22, Jones 1) Kerr with a maiden.
25th over: England 106-3 (Sciver 22, Jones 1) Here’s Nat Sciver! A full toss by Mackay is bunted away for four, Sciver’s first real shot in anger. The camera zooms in on her and she looks steely eyed and determined. England need her here. Ton up for the holders after half the overs.
24th over: England 99-3 (Sciver 16, Jones 0) Amelia Kerr keeps the pressure on. Just a single to Nat Sciver, who has been pretty subdued so far in this innings. Amy Jones is the new bat and pats a few back, all the better to get her eye in.
Knight lbw b Mackay 42 (England 98-3)
And they do! Heather Knight gets out the reverse sweep once more but misses. Huge appeal and the finger is raised! Knight reviews... is this sliding down? Nope! Ball tracking shows the ball clipping the leg bail - Knight has to go. New Zealand prise the door ajar.
23rd over: England 98-3 (Sciver 15, Jones 0)
22nd over: England 93-2 (Knight 41, Sciver 14) A better over from Kerr, three from the over. New Zealand need to make something happen here.
21st over: England 93-2 (Knight 40, Sciver 13) Confirmation that Lea Tahuhu will not come back onto the field following her hamstring injury. We wish her well.
20th over: England 90-2 (Knight 39, Sciver 11) Amelia Kerr is on for a twirl but she isn’t quite finding her line and length. She’s either too far outside off or sliding into the pads to be worked away. Knight does exactly that off the final ball of the over, glancing away to bring up a boundary. It’s gone a little flat out there for the White Ferns.
18th over: England 83-2 (Knight 34, Sciver 9) Reverse sweep for four off the final ball of the over. Pre-meditated by Knight and played with aplomb. Showing all her class here the England skipper.
17th over: England 77-2 (Knight 29, Sciver 8) Tickin’ over.
16th over: England 73-2 (Knight 27, Sciver 6) England pick up seven runs from Rowe to stay ahead of the run rate. They are currently ticking along at 4.29 with the RR at 3.96. They need 131 from 33 overs to keep their World Cup campaign alive.
15th over: England 66-2 (Knight 22, Sciver 5) Oh no! It looks like Lea Tahuhu has tweaked a hamstring, she pulls up lame after four balls of the over and has to limp off the field with the kiwi physio. Brooke Halliday comes on to complete the over, leaping in as she does, Mike Procter-ish, off the wrong foot. And she nearly has a wicket off her second ball! Nat Sciver plinks a drive in the air to a diving Maddy Green who signals straight away that the ball bounced into her hands. Well played all-round-perhaps apart from Sciver.
14th over: England 65-2 (Knight 21, Sciver 5) A huge appeal for lbw but it is one that peters out into a groan as the New Zealand players realise that Nat Sciver has inside edged into her pad, her bacon duly saved. Drinks.
Just time to have a butchers* at that Heather Knight grab for the umpteenth time.
Catch.#CWC22 #NZvENG https://t.co/QV5F6kAAtp pic.twitter.com/pIroPkm99I
— hypocaust (@_hypocaust) March 20, 2022
*Am I hungry? Very meaty stuff, especially given the hour.
13th over: England 60-2 (Knight 18, Sciver 3) All a little cagey, lots on the line for both sides. England pick up three from Kerr’s latest.
Two in the front 10! An outstanding @hmrowey running catch and @LTahuhu fire highlight the opening stanza. @englandcricket move to 55/2 after 10 overs 🏏
— WHITE FERNS (@WHITE_FERNS) March 20, 2022
Watch LIVE in NZ with @skysportnz and @Primetv_NZ or listen with @SENZ_Radio 📲#CWC22 #NZvENG 📸 ICC/Getty pic.twitter.com/rDh1iLwwyn
12th over: England 57-2 (Knight 17, Sciver 1) A maiden from Tahuhu (which is a lovely surname, especially to type if I may be so bold) Knight has looked cagey since the fall of Beaumont. She is foxed by a cutter that sees her through the shot early and almost, almost plops the ball straight to short cover. Feels like another wicket or two and this total and the pressure might begin to tell.
11th over: England 57-2 (Knight 17, Sciver 1) Kerr continues and England pick up four from the over. Congratulations to Lea Tahuhu!
Most wickets for New Zealand in women's ODIs:
— hypocaust (@_hypocaust) March 20, 2022
93 Lea Tahuhu👈
92 Aimee Watkins
88 Nicola Browne
87 Sophie Devine#CWC22 #NZvENG
Wicket! Beaumont b Tahuhu 25
The win predictor flashes up with England at 77 per cent... but that will be all change as Lea Tahuhu bowls Beaumont! Full, touch of movement and the bails are sent flying into the breeze. That’s the end of the powerplay, honours about even.
10th over: England 53-2 (Knight 14, Sciver 0)
9th over: England 48-1 (Beaumont 21, Knight 14) New Zealand might want to try a change of pace here, Knight and Beaumont look at ease with the seam up, pitched up stuff at the moment. A square drive brings Beaumont four and England grab seven from the over without having to break sweat.
8th over: England 41-1 (Beaumont 16, Knight 13) Shot! Heather Knight shows all of her class by unfurling a textbook on-drive off the new bowler, Lea Tahuhu. Full face, makers name. Delightful. These two look in fine fettle, gliding, punching and driving with ease to pick up ten runs off the over.
7th over: England 31-1 (Beaumont 13, Knight 6) Heather Knight, no doubt still on a high after that phenomenal catch of her own earlier, is into her work with a crisp drive off a low full toss through the covers for four.
Sssstretch. Got it.
Honestly, I have enjoyed this World Cup way more than I thought I would. It’s been so so good. #NZvENG #CWC22 pic.twitter.com/oEFYtvexm0
— (not) A high calibre Māori (@gingofthesouth) March 20, 2022
6th over: England 26-1 (Beaumont 13, Knight 1)England and Beaumont bust the shackles with a couple of leg side boundaries, too full and straight from Rowe and she is picked off. She responds with a decent yorker that Beaumont digs out well.
5th over: England 17-1 (Beaumont 5, Knight 0) Kerr joins the dots to make it back to back maidens. England just re-calibrating here after the early gung-ho.
4th over: England 17-1 (Beaumont 5, Knight 0) Rowe follows up her fine bit of fielding by reeling off a maiden. Including an absolute peach of an out-swinger to beat Heather Knight. Peach. Jaffa. Whichever fruit you prefer.
Wicket! Wyatt ct Rowe b Kerr 12
Another Beaumont single brings Wyatt on to strike and she smears another four with a drive lofted through the covers. It’s curtains the next ball though as another aerial drive is plucked out of the powder grey sky by Hannah Rowe! A fine grab. Wyatt looked in good knick, big wicket.
3rd over: England 17-1 (Beaumont 5, Knight 0)
2nd over: England 12-0 (Beaumont 4, Wyatt 8) Hannah Rowe from the other end and it’s a bit of a mixed bag. A single to Beaumont brings Wyatt on strike. Rowe beats her with a beauty that holds its line but Wyatt is not perturbed, she greets a full ball with a lofted drive for four over mid-off.
1st over: England 7-0 (Beaumont 3, Wyatt 4) The wind is gusting by the looks of the players’ billowing shirts. Jess Kerr steams in to Tammy Beaumont. Touch of inswing. Three dots and then a shorter ball is hauled into the leg side by Beaumont to get England’s cause underway. They scamper back for two. A drop and go single brings Danni Wyatt on to strike and she slaps a full toss away for four through the covers with her very first ball! A gift from Kerr and Wyatt does not miss out. Seven off the first.
Thanks Megan and g’day everyone! Jim here in a pitch black South London. Google maps tells me I’m about 11, 388 miles from the action at Eden Park in Auckland. Feels further if anything...
I’m on the Ovaltine and ready for the call of the second half of this do or die game between holders and hosts. Where’s your money? The New Zealand players are in a huddle and the England batters whirl and stretch and stride purposefully to the crease.
Let’s do this.
New Zealand 203
This was certainly not what we were expecting after that excellent start from Devine and Bates. Brunt and Shrubsole struggled at the start, but good captaincy from Knight saved the innings. Rather than push her senior bowlers through, she took a chance on Cross - paired with the experienced Sciver - and it paid off in a big way, with the scoring drying up immediately. Then it was Ecclestone and Dean who were so economical, but also took some very key wickets and really pushed NZ into the danger zone. The loss of Devine to injury was unfortunate for NZ, as if she had been able to bat on, it may have been a different story. She is such a talismanic captain and can really shape an innings. She didn’t look quite right when she came back and wasn’t able to continue her momentum. Maddy Green was solid, but not sensational and Jess Kerr’s late hitting looked like it could do some damage, but it was too little, too late. This doesn’t look like enough runs on what we saw yesterday was a good batting wicket, but anything could happen from here. NZ are desperate to stay alive in this tournament and maybe they can pull off a miracle with the ball? Stay tuned, because it’s certain to be a fascinating second innings. I’ll hand you over now to the excellent James Wallace, who will take you through England’s batting innings. Thanks for hanging out with me - I’ll see you for another OBO very soon!
49th over: New Zealand 203 (Maddy Green 52, Jess Kerr 13)
Brunt takes the penultimate over and Jess Kerr looks more like Melie Kerr as she cuts it beautifully through the gap for a boundary. Next ball she pulls it, but can’t find the gap this time and it’s just a single. Brunt’s next ball is a touch too full and Green drives it well, but there’s a fielder on the boundary to restrict her to one. Kerr picks up where she left off and brings up the 200 for NZ with a well-timed steer past deep backward point for four. But then she goes for two and miscommunication between the batters sees her out and NZ can’t finish their overs.
WICKET! Jess Kerr 13 ro Brunt, NZ 203
There’s a mix up between the batters going for a second run and Kerr is gone, just as she was batting so strongly. A disappointing finish.
48th over: New Zealand 192-9 (Maddy Green 51, Jess Kerr 4)
Sciver takes back over from Brunt and Green is facing up. She scampers through for a single off the second ball of the over to bring up her 50 - her first in a World Cup. She’s been key for NZ today, but will wish she’d been able to create a bigger strike rate. Kerr gets herself off strike again very quickly and they’re really only working in singles here at the moment. Green pulls one aggressively, but again it’s just a single that leaves Kerr on strike for the last ball of the over. She dashes through to keep the strike.
47th over: New Zealand 188-9 (Maddy Green 49, Jess Kerr 2)
Things are looking more and more dire for NZ now and they’re struggling to get over 200 here, which is a real worry. Ecclestone bowls her last over and starts with three dots to Kerr before a single gets Green back on strike. Green is looking frustrated at her inability to penetrate the field and she can only manage a single to end the over, but it means she keeps the strike at least.
46th over: New Zealand 186-9 (Maddy Green 48, Jess Kerr 1)
Another Brunt over and after a couple of dots, she gets Kerr on strike, which is what England will want at the moment. Kerr strikes it confidently, but she can’t get it past the field. She settles and gets off strike next ball as Green makes her away towards 50. This is much better bowling from Brunt, only two from the over.
45th over: New Zealand 184-9 (Maddy Green 47, Jess Kerr 0)
Ecclestone bowls her ninth over and Green keeps the strike rotating. Jones uses her quick hands to end Rowe’s innings and it’s up to Jess Kerr now.
Updated
WICKET! Hannah Rowe 5 c Jones b Ecclestone, New Zealand 184-9
Very quick hands behind the stumps from Jones to pick up a little edge from Rowe and it’s more trouble for NZ.
44th over: New Zealand 182-8 (Maddy Green 46, Hannah Rowe 4)
Brunt is back - let’s see how she goes after that pretty ordinary start. She looks like she has a bit of a lower back issue after the first ball, but she keeps on going. She’d finding her line much better at the start of the over, but she gives away another wide late in the over - she’s not very happy with the decision though!
43rd over: New Zealand 177-8 (Maddy Green 43, Hannah Rowe 3)
Ecclestone on for her eighth over of the day, it looks like she will bowl out here. Green gets a nice little edge that certainly wasn’t intentional, but it races away for a boundary and NZ will take runs whichever way they can get them at this stage. Seven off the over again, this is better from NZ.
42nd over: New Zealand 170-8 (Maddy Green 37, Hannah Rowe 2)
Green finds a pocket first up and gets a much-needed boundary from Cross’s over. She then cuts it nicely for a single and gives Rowe a shot at Cross. Rowe is looking fairly confident for a number 10. It’s a lot of pressure considering the situation the White Ferns find themselves in here. She gets Green back on strike and will be looking to support her to finish out this innings. A good seven from that over.
41st over: New Zealand 163-8 (Maddy Green 31, Hannah Rowe 1)
Ecclestone is keen for a review on her second ball and Knight decides to let her take it - she’s convinced the ball hit Mackay’s pad first. She is indeed correct and Mackay ends her short stay at the crease. Green needs to be the one to score big here, but she’s finding it very tough. After a great start, NZ have completely fallen away here and England are well on top.
WICKET! Frankie Mackay 1 lbw Ecclestone, New Zealand 161-8
The umpire didn’t think it was out and Mackay thought she got bat on it first, but Eccelstone convinces Knight to review it and it was pad first, so Mackay has to go. Things are completely falling apart for NZ now.
40th over: New Zealand 161-7 (Maddy Green 30, Frankie Mackay 1)
Cross continues and keeps up the dot ball pressure, but once Devine gets on strike, she goes big. It looks a bit edgy but it falls safely. Next ball she tries it again, but this time Dean is there to take the catch and Devine can’t save the day here.
WICKET! Sophie Devine 41 c Dean b Cross, New Zealand 160-7
It’s a short stay for Devine, she tries teeing off and gets one away, but her second attempt is caught by Dean and she has to go.
39th over: New Zealand 155-6 (Maddy Green 29, Sophie Devine 37)
Ecclestone strikes early, but it brings Devine back - we’ll see how injured she is and if she can continue her fine run of form from earlier today. It’s a wicket maiden for Ecclestone - an excellent over for her.
WICKET! Tahuhu 0 c Knight, b Ecclestone, New Zealand 155-6
Tahuhu tries to go hard, but she can’t get the ball past Knight who takes a stunning flying catch. Devine finally comes back to the crease to a huge cheer from the crowd.
38th over: New Zealand 155-5 (Maddy Green 29, Lea Tahuhu 0)
Devine is back on the bench with pads on, standing up and keeping herself warm, so that’s a welcome sight for NZ fans. It’s a bit of an awkward situation now because she’s just waiting for someone to get out so she can get back in. England offer her an opportunity by taking Martin’s wicket, but Devine probably isn’t as fine as she looks because Tahuhu comes to the crease instead. Perhaps Devine will be better suited to come in for a couple of overs at the end and smash it around. Tahuhu looks to get off the mark immediately, guiding the ball around the corner to leg gully, but she doesn’t get bat on it and it’s a leg bye. Green strikes with a much-needed boundary, driving it straight down the ground and getting it just wide of Dean in the outfield.
Updated
WICKET! Katey Martin 6 lbw Cross, New Zealand 150-5
Martin reviews because she suspects it’s a tad too high, but the on field umpire had it right and she’s on her way.
37th over: New Zealand 149-4 (Maddy Green 25, Katey Martin 5)
Dean bowls her final over for the day and what a sensational day its been for her. She’s really stemmed the flow of runs and made it very hard for NZ, as well as taking the vital wickets of Kerr and Satterthwaite. She nearly gets another in her final over as Martin chips one to Sciver, but it falls just short of her dive.
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36th over: New Zealand 147-4 (Maddy Green 24, Katey Martin 4)
Cross replaces Sciver - she had 1-15 from her first six overs, so she will be hoping to continue with that excellent effort. She starts well with a couple of dots and then Green and Martin manage a couple of quick singles to get the strike rotating.
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35th over: New Zealand 143-4 (Maddy Green 23, Katey Martin 1)
Dean looks like she’ll bowl her 10 overs straight, as she’s got the momentum now and has been very economical, as well as taking two wickets. She’s not getting a lot of spin out of this pitch, but she’s getting great flight and drift and the batters aren’t able to get under the ball to get her away. Unfortunately a misfield from Ecclestone at mid-off releases the pressure and allows a boundary to Green.
Updated
34th over: New Zealand 139-4 (Maddy Green 19, Katey Martin 1)
Sciver is back to bowl after that excellent run out. Martin and Green take a single each to start the over, looking to keep the strike rotating. The run rate is back above four, but they’ll want to keep pushing it. There’s an appeal for caught behind and the umpire gives it out, but Green is very quick to review and the third umpire confirms there’s no bat involved and she’s safe.
33rd over: New Zealand 137-4 (Maddy Green 18, Katey Martin 0)
Dean takes her eighth over straight, which is a good move from Knight - why not keep her going while she’s bowling this well? It will be interesting to see when we get Brunt and Shrubsole back into the attack after their less-than-brilliant effort to start the match. The pressure starts to get to the batters and they take an unwise single that spells the end of Brooke Halliday’s innings.
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WICKET! Brooke Halliday 2, ro Sciver, New Zealand 137-4
Well that is not what NZ needed. The quick single wasn’t really on and Sciver took full advantage with an excellent and accurate throw.
32nd over: New Zealand 136-3 (Maddy Green 18, Brooke Halliday 1)
Sciver takes the second over of her second spell and Halliday can’t do more than defend it back for the first couple of balls. Sciver’s line and length is pretty much perfect this over and she’s not giving Halliday anything to work with. Eventually she finds a leg bye and gets off strike for the final ball of the over.
31st over: New Zealand 135-3 (Maddy Green 18, Brooke Halliday 1)
Just the single bowling change this time as Dean continues. She starts well, but Satterthwaite moves to the second ball and pushes her hands through to find one of the pockets of the ground for a lovely four. However Dean gets her sweeping and sneaks one through the gap to find her pad and she has to go just as she’s finding momentum. An important breakthrough for England here and Brooke Halliday comes to the crease.
WICKET! Amy Satterthwaite 24 lbw b Dean, New Zealand 134-2
Satterthwaite reviews and it’s an umpire’s call, but she has to go. She’d been looking to go big and was starting to find momentum, but Dean gets past her bat as she tries to sweep and sends her on her way.
30th over: New Zealand 130-2 (Maddy Green 18, Amy Satterthwaite 20)
Sciver is back and Green immediately uses the pace of the ball to pick up two, then gets a little outside edge for a single. Satterthwaite rushes through for a quick single, but a bad throw gives them two instead on overthrows. Knight misses one in the field to give away another single and NZ are starting to find some momentum. A little edge from Green offers Jones a half chance at a catch, but she can’t hold on to it.
29th over: New Zealand 124-2 (Maddy Green 15, Amy Satterthwaite 17)
Dean continues to Green, who defends a couple of balls before cutting one to deep cover for a single. The urgency from the last over has dissipated, but Satterthwaite manages to paddle one around the corner for a boundary from the last ball of the over to keep a bit of pace in the game.
28th over: New Zealand 119-2 (Maddy Green 14, Amy Satterthwaite 13)
Green gives us some of the urgency that’s been lacking with a sensational 69m six - driving it over long on. She takes the single next ball and then Satterthwaite drives it down the ground for four. It seems like they’ve flicked a switch this over! Satterthwaite follows up with an aggressive pull shot, but it’s just a single this time. Importantly they’re not letting the dot ball pressure build this over though. Just the one dot ball this over and it was the final ball.
27th over: New Zealand 106-2 (Maddy Green 6, Amy Satterthwaite 8)
Wyatt fumbles one in the field, but NZ don’t take a run from it, there still doesn’t seem to be too much urgency out there. Dean and Ecclestone have picked up where Sciver and Cross left off. Dean manages some excellent fielding off her own bowling and they’re just piling on the pressure, with the run rate dropping below four now - it was above seven at one stage in this match.
26th over: New Zealand 104-2 (Maddy Green 5, Amy Satterthwaite 7)
Past the halfway point now and the spin continues with Ecclestone. It’s been a sensational fight back from England - NZ looked to be completely in control early in the match, but now England are driving the pace. Satterthwaite gets one away over the infield, but it’s easily cut off by the field and she’s restricted to a single.
25th over: New Zealand 101-2 (Maddy Green 4, Amy Satterthwaite 5)
NZ bring up their hundred - the second fifty certainly wasn’t as quick as their first and Green will be hoping to bump up the run rate again. It’s a good batting pitch and they will need a decent amount of runs to defend here. Dean is bowling very well and NZ are finding it tough.
24th over: New Zealand 99-2 (Maddy Green 2, Amy Satterthwaite 5)
Ecclestone continues and Green gets off the mark immediately, which will put her mind at ease a little. Some news on Devine, she has some back soreness and the medical staff are seeing how she responds to treatment before making a decision about whether she can continue.
23rd over: New Zealand 96-2 (Maddy Green 0, Amy Satterthwaite 4)
Sattherthwaite starts Dean’s over with a cut for a single and nearly takes out Kerr as they take the run. Fortunately they avoid each other and Dean misses her length next ball, allowing Kerr to slog sweep it to the boundary for four. Dean fights back with a couple of dots and the pressure gets to Kerr, top edging one and losing her wicket.
WICKET! Amelia Kerr 24 c Shrubsole b Dean, New Zealand 96-2
Kerr knows she has to push the scoring forward and she takes too big a risk, top edging one straight up in the air, which Shrubsole takes easily.
22nd over: New Zealand 91-1 (Amelia Kerr 20, Amy Satterthwaite 3)
Kerr starts Ecclestone’s next over with a boundary, defends one back and then rotates the strike to Satterthwaite. She gets her feet to the ball and manages to loft one over the infield for a single.
21st over: New Zealand 85-1 (Amelia Kerr 15, Amy Satterthwaite 2)
Another over for Dean and Kerr picks up the length quickly and pulls one away aggressively, but it’s straight to the field and it’s just a single. It’s a good over for England, just that one run from it.
20th over: New Zealand 84-1 (Amelia Kerr 14, Amy Satterthwaite 2)
Another double bowling change and we get spin from both ends with Sophie Ecclestone getting her first over. Word from the NZ changerooms is that Devine’s injury is still being assessed, so we’ll see what happens once that assessment is completed. Kerr definitely looks happier against the spin with a nice back foot drive to deep cover for two early in the over. There’s an appeal late in the over for LBW - it doesn’t look like much and the umpire isn’t interested, but Knight decides to review. Ball tracking confirms it’s going down leg and England lose the review.
19th over: New Zealand 81-1 (Amelia Kerr 11, Amy Satterthwaite 2)
We see some spin for the first time today as Charlie Dean enters the attack. Kerr looks to attack right away with a cut shot that she looks like running on, but it goes straight to the field and she doesn’t chance it. Eventually she finds some space and takes a quick two to ease the pressure. She then lets the ball comes on to her bat and just uses her wrists to guide one down to third and picks up three. Satterthwaite comes to the party with a quick single - both batters look much more comfortable against the spin.
18th over: New Zealand 74-1 (Amelia Kerr 5, Amy Satterthwaite 1)
Cross and Sciver have done an excellent job to bring the run rate right down and neither of these two batters looks settled just yet. There’s not a lot of urgency out there - the shots that are going to the edge of the infield that were seeing Devine and Bates drop and run are leaving Satterthwaite and Kerr completely unmoved. Clearly they don’t want to take too many risks and lose a wicket, but they’re allowing the dot ball pressure to build, which is just what England want.
17th over: New Zealand 73-1 (Amelia Kerr 5, Amy Satterthwaite 1)
Sciver continues her spell and Satterthwaite defends it back to her for the first three balls, before eventually getting off the mark with a glance to fine leg for a single. It’s a good, tight over from Sciver, just one from it.
16th over: New Zealand 72-1 (Amelia Kerr 5, Amy Satterthwaite 0)
Cross continues her good work and this second bowling partnership is a much better one for England - it was a good call from Knight to bring them in when she did. Kerr has the ability to go big, but she doesn’t seem to be finding the balls she wants to attack just yet. She is starting to look a little uncomfortable with the dot ball pressure and England will look to take advantage of that to dismiss her cheaply. There’s a bit of a mix up when everyone thinks the over is completed after five balls, but we get it sorted and Cross bowls the final ball and Kerr will be glad they figured out there was one ball left because she lofts it over the infield for four.
15th over: New Zealand 68-1 (Amelia Kerr 1, Amy Satterthwaite 0)
Amy Satterthwaite replaces Devine and will hope to continue her momentum. The good news for England is that they now have two new batters at the crease. While it hasn’t happened the way they would have liked or planned, they will look to take advantage of the situation and unsettle the pair before they find their feet. Kerr finally gets off the mark and Sciver gets very close to taking Satterthwaite’s wicket.
Updated
Devine retires hurt
She can’t continue right now, so she’s hobbling off the field, but she smiles and gives a thumbs up, so we hope we’ll see her back later in the innings.
Ooh some bad news for Devine and NZ here, she turns for a second run and something gives way and she crumbles to the ground. The medical staff come on to the ground to take a look. As someone who covers and watches a lot of netball, it didn’t look like an ACL to me, which was what my initial worry was when she went down. She’s clutched her thigh as she’s gone down, so perhaps some kind of quad strain? Let’s hope it’s nothing serious.
14th over: New Zealand 66-1 (Amelia Kerr 0, Sophie Devine 36)
Kerr gets her first look at Cross for today after Devine takes a quick single and again she is happy to defend the ball back and take her time to get into this innings. Cross has been the pick of the England bowlers so far, her line and length have been excellent and she is making the batters work hard for every run. It’s another great over from her, just the one from it.
13th over: New Zealand 65-1 (Amelia Kerr 0, Sophie Devine 35)
While England will be happy with that wicket, there’s not too much for them to celebrate about the partnership of Devine and Amelia Kerr at the crease - NZ’s two best batters so far at this tournament. They will want to break this partnership sooner rather than later. Kerr defends her first ball - the good start from the openers gives her a chance to settle into her innings a little rather than having to go hard from the start. She sees out the last two balls of the over without scoring.
12th over: New Zealand 61-1 (Amelia Kerr 0, Sophie Devine 32)
Kate Cross continues and Devine immediately rotates the strike. Cross is finding some good length and she gets Bates mistiming one in the air, but it falls safely. Cross is interested in a caught behind, but the umpire isn’t and Knight decides not to review. Eventually Cross’s length balls catch Bates going too hard and mis-timing and England have their first wicket.
WICKET! Suzie Bates 22 c Beaumont b Cross, New Zealand 61-1
After a few excellent balls from Cross she finally lures Bates into her trap with a length ball on middle stump that sees Bates driving and mis-timing it for a simple catch to Beaumont.
11th over: New Zealand 58-0 (Suzie Bates 20, Sophie Devine 30)
Bates is looking to up her strike rate, but she struggles to get Sciver away at the start of the over. She’s finding the room and getting the shots away, but can’t quite time them to get through the field. Eventually she times one well enough to cut it through backward point for two. Then she drives one straight down the ground for four and looks to be settling into her innings now.
10th over: New Zealand 52-0 (Suzie Bates 14, Sophie Devine 30)
Devine seems to have seen enough of Cross now to have a shot at her and she cuts one beautifully for four, bringing up the 50 run partnership. Devine is clearly batting out of her crease as well and now the umpire comes in to have a word with her about it. This is getting quite bizarre now. There is the ability for the umpires to award penalty runs if they deem this to be an ongoing problem, so something to keep in mind.
9th over: New Zealand 48-0 (Suzie Bates 14, Sophie Devine 26)
And another bowling change - perhaps Knight has recognised that an angry Brunt isn’t going to settle into her line and length just yet. Instead we get Nat Sciver replacing her and she starts well and then bowls a shorter one, which Devine guides away down to third, but there’s a fielder set quite fine there and she’s restricted to one. These new bowlers have successfully slowed down the NZ batters, getting the run rate back below six.
8th over: New Zealand 45-0 (Suzie Bates 13, Sophie Devine 24)
We have our first bowling change, with Kate Cross replacing Shrubsole. She gets her line and length right first up and Devine can only defend it away for the first couple of balls. She steals a quick run on the third - it doesn’t look like there’s anything on at all, it’s a similar defensive shot, but some quick running sees them home and gets Bates on strike. Bates takes a bit swing at a ball, but Cross has done a good job and gets it past her. Now the umpire comes in to have a word with Bates and tells her she’s batting too far out of her crease, which is an interesting talking point. Does anyone remember seeing that happen before?
7th over: New Zealand 44-0 (Suzie Bates 13, Sophie Devine 23)
Brunt to Bates now and Bates doesn’t look quite in her groove yet, but she seems comfortable enough playing the support role to Devine for now. Brunt starts to build the dot ball pressure on her and Devine gives her some reassurance, which seems to do the trick because next ball Brunt bowls one just short of a length and Bates pulls it away strongly to the boundary for four. It’s a decent over from Brunt, just the four from it, but she doesn’t look happy at all.
6th over: New Zealand 40-0 (Suzie Bates 9, Sophie Devine 23)
Shrubsole continues and Bates takes a ball to consider her approach and then looks for one of those Eden Park pockets - she can’t quite get it to the boundary, but some good running gets them three. Shrubsole puts one wide down the leg side, but Devine comes out to meet it, picks it up early and sweeps it away for four. She follows it up with a similar shot, putting it behind square towards a pocket and picks up another two.
5th over: New Zealand 31-0 (Suzie Bates 6, Sophie Devine 17)
The rain is back, but the teams are playing on for now. The ground staff are poised at the boundary with the covers ready, so we could stop at any moment, but it’s good to see them stay out there for now. Brunt continues her spell and Devine takes another easy two to start the over. Brunt then manages five dots in a row, which is a good sign that she’s starting to find her line and length. It’s England’s best over so far - just the two from it.
4th over: New Zealand 29-0 (Suzie Bates 6, Sophie Devine 15)
Devine and Bates look completely untroubled at the moment, they’re cruising along at a good clip and not finding it necessary to play it safe early while they get a feel for the ground and the bowlers. Devine finds one of those weird pockets of the ground and the quick outfield assists the ball in getting to the rope - she’s looking dangerous early.
3rd over: New Zealand 23-0 (Suzie Bates 5, Sophie Devine 10)
Devine takes a quick single Bates finally gets her chance for a boundary - her strike rate looks poor, but she has faced a lot of poor balls from England that have resulted in extras, so she has played her role so far. NZ certainly aren’t letting any dot ball pressure build on them early, they’re dropping and running whenever they get the chance and cleverly maneuvering the ball around the field for ones and twos.
2nd over: New Zealand 17-0 (Suzie Bates 1, Sophie Devine 9)
Shrubsole opens from the other end and surprise! She starts with a wide. She gets her line right next ball, but the one after that is too straight and Bates gets a couple of leg byes - a good save by Ecclestone on the boundary stops it being four. Shrubsole adds another wide to her tally in the middle of the over and Heather Knight is looking a little frustrated that her senior bowlers aren’t able to find their line early in this match. Devine drives one through the covers for three - it nearly gets to the boundary but some good fielding from Beaumont and Dunkley cuts it off. It’s another good over for NZ.
1st over: New Zealand 9-0 (Suzie Bates 1, Sophie Devine 6)
Here we go in this must-win clash for both teams. Devine and Bates get us started, while Katherine Brunt takes the new ball for England, as we have become accustomed to. She has a slip in place to start against Bates. Well in a continuation from yesterday, we start with a wide. Ellyse Perry struggled with her line yesterday, bowling six wides in her first over. But Brunt recovers her line quickly with an LBW appeal on the next ball, but it’s too high. She follows it up with another wide and then abandons her run up on the re-attempt. It’s extremely windy at Eden Park and the bowlers will need to adjust quickly. Bates finally gets one she can hit and she’s off the mark with a single. Devine takes a ball to get her eye in and then she tucks one away to square leg for two to get off the mark, followed by a beautiful cut away for four.
New Zealand XI
Suzie Bates
Sophie Devine (c)
Amelia Kerr
Amy Satterthwaite
Maddy Green
Brooke Halliday
Katey Martin (wk)
Frankie Mackay
Lea Tahuhu
Jess Kerr
Hannah Rowe
England XI
Tammy Beaumont
Danni Wyatt
Heather Knight (c)
Nat Sciver
Amy Jones (wk)
Sophia Dunkley
Katherine Brunt
Sophie Ecclestone
Kate Cross
Charlie Dean
Anya Shrubsole
England win the toss and elect to bowl
Heather Knight takes a leaf out of Meg Lanning’s book and opts for the chase after seeing how well Australia were able to do that yesterday. Sophie Devine is happy with the result as well, as she was planning to bat first. Both teams are unchanged since their previous matches.
Updated
If you missed the action from Eden Park yesterday, you can catch up on our OBO from Australia v India. It featured plenty of momentum swings and will tell you plenty about what a good batting wicket it is in Auckland. India were good enough to get the match into the final over, but Beth Mooney was calm under pressure to get the job done in three balls. There are some deep pockets in this field and Australia were able to take advantage of those weird little spaces to run plenty of twos - something both NZ and England will have taken note of for today’s game.
The toss has been delayed due to a bit of a downpour in Auckland, but there will be no delay to the first ball at this stage. It looks a bit windy out at Eden Park, but there is some blue sky and sunshine peeking through, so hopefully we won’t lose any overs.
Preamble
Good morning and what a match we’re about to have on our hands here! After disappointing tournaments so far, both teams are absolutely desperate for a win today to keep their World Cup hopes alive. England bounced back from a woeful start to crush India in their last match, restricting them to 134 and chasing down that total in 31.2 overs to give their net run rate a much needed boost. New Zealand have looked excellent at times, but close losses to South Africa and West Indies, as well as comprehensive defeat at the hands of Australia have derailed the hosts. It’s all on the line today and both teams have everything to lose, so it will be fascinating to watch.
