A super win there for England, that record-breaking seventh-wicket partnership of 130 taking them from what looked like the mire to fertile pastures. Great to see Jones looking so confident after a tricky T20 series, and so encouraging for England to watch Dean playing with such panache. Bouchier sparkled for her 31 but England were in deep trouble at 79-6.
Highest 7th wicket partnership in a women's ODI:
— hypocaust (@_hypocaust) April 1, 2024
130* Amy Jones & Charlie Dean (ENG) v NZ, today
122 Sneh Rana & Pooja Vastrakar (IND) v NZ, 2022
114 Aliya RIaz & Fatima Sana (PAK) v SA, 2023
The previous record in a run chase before Jones & Dean had been 87.#NZvENG
From 90-0, New Zealand’s innings fell away with the dismissal of Bates. The fact that they had England in such deep trouble with the ball will give succour, but they let them off the hook with defensive field placing and some pretty ropey fielding on the boundary.
The whole shebang moves on to Hamilton on Thursday. That’s it from the Basin Reserve, and my sofa, time to grab a couple more hours of snooze. Thanks for reading, bye!
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Heather Knight looks happy. “I felt like we were in a really good position at the half way stage, I don’t know how many times Kate beat the outside edge, she certainly deserved her luck. Nat isn’t used to bowling ten overs but she’s an athlete. [Thoughts while watching the seventh-wicket partnership?]How much Deano’s improved her batting, got her rewards for that. Jones, made some brilliant reflections [on not managing a chase in the T20], the way they soaked up pressure and did partnership rebuild was a brilliant lesson for us all.
New Zealand captain Melie Kerr must give her thoughts. “I thought Susie was outstanding [with the bat] but we lost wickets in clumps, I thought Kate Cross bowled really well there and we didn’t really have any answers to the changes of pace or variation. But one more wicket and we could have won with the score on 20o. When Dean and Jones walked out to bat, one more wicket and we were down to the tail. I thought they both batted incredibly but another time we’d get a bit more luck. Their partnership was outstanding, we didn’t have any answer to that.”
The player of the match is … Amy Jones. “I tried to be as positive as possible, respecting the good ball as well. I’ve done a bit of work going through mindset in run chases and that paid off as well. [with the gloves] My first game here I had a shocker, but gradually got used to it, really enjoyed it here today.”
New Zealand really let that one slip away through their fingers. England go one up in the three-match series, having already taken the T20 series 4-1.
#NZvENG New Zealand 207 v England 209-6 pic.twitter.com/DRrqorYQ53
— CRICKETher 🏏 (@crickether) April 1, 2024
England win by four wickets!
41.2 overs: England 209-6 ( Jones 92, Dean 42)… but its Dean who gets the pleasure, a four which dribbles over the rope. What a sensational fight-back of a partnership, unbroken for the seventh wicket, 130 in 147 balls.
41st over: England 205-6 ( Jones 92, Dean 38) England need 3 to win. Tahuhu’s final over and bizarrely they take an ad break half way through – come back to find Jess Kerr has dropped an overhead catch to give Jones a chance to hit the winning runs…
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40th over: England 197-6 ( Jones 85, Dean 37) England need 11 off 10 overs Jonas, baby faced, left arm twirl. Just a single and a wide. The small crowd are staying on as this slips from New Zealand’s grasp.
39th over: England 195-6 ( Jones 84, Dean 37) England need 13 off 11 overs A half run out chance, but Dean makes it back, then I temporarily lose signal but there’s nine from the over.
38th over: England 187-6 ( Jones 78, Dean 35) England need 22 off 13 overs Jonas, but no cigar.
37th over: England 181-6 ( Jones 73, Dean 34) England need 27 off 13 overs Jess Kerr comes back, and just the single from it.
36th over: England 180-6 ( Jones 72, Dean 34) England need 28 off 14 overs Dab, dab, then an up and over periscope by Dean for a couple. And that’s the 100 parnership off 113 balls, warmly applauded by the pair’s team-mates sitting on the grass round the boundary. Just boringly sensible batting.
35th over: England 174-6 ( Jones 70, Dean 30) England need 34 off 15 overs Kerr gambles on bowling herself out – 2-46. This should be easy for England now.
34th over: England 169-6 ( Jones 67, Dean 29) England need 38 off 16 overs Tahuhu. England steal a quick single – they’re having fun out there. Now Jones pulls and there’s another fumble on the rope, this time for Rowe, and the ball dribbles for four more. New Zealand’s fielders on the rope must have given away 15-20 runs here.
33rd over: England 164-6 ( Jones 62, Dean 28) England need 44 off 17 overs. Kerr again. Jones smashes her down the ground for four. And another, over the off side this time. Have New Zealand left their big guns till too late, now these two have their eye in? The total needed drops below fifty.
Fifty for Amy Jones
32nd over: England 152-6 ( Jones 53, Dean 25) Tahuhu back, as New Zealand throw everything at the Jones/Dean problem. Nearly works as Jones pulls, but just in front of Maddy Green. And that’s the Jones fifty (51 balls) with a lofted four. And England now only need 56 to win.
31st over: England 145-6 ( Jones 46, Dean 25) Kerr brings herself back on, just as the commentators were asking. Makes sense, New Zealand need to get one of these two of this game is going to race away from them. One spins past the outside edge of Jones, but they pick up a handful of singles. Time for DRINKS!
30th over: England 141-6 ( Jones 44, Dean 23) Four dots from Rowe, then Jones spoils the pot by pulling with venom and picking up four. And that’s four more, nearly ironed, down the ground, evading the chasing A Kerr. 67 needed.
29th over: England 133-6 ( Jones 36, Dean 23) Just a couple off Jess Kerr’s over, and the first email of the day lands. Hello Damian Clarke!
“Poi making. The spinning balls or the yoghurty paste?
At this time on a sleepless night, the devil is in the detail.”
Definitely the spinnings balls – I had to google the yogurty paste. “a thick paste of pounded bananas or pineapples mixed with coconut cream” sounds delicious.
28th over: England 131-6 ( Jones 35, Dean 22) A long discussion between Rowe and Melie Kerr. And with a shimmy from Dean that’s the fifty partnership in 63 balls. Four more off the over, without the need for anything risky.
27th over: England 127-6 ( Jones 34, Dean 19) Jones has the bit between her teeth. Goes down the ground for a couple, then over extra cover for four more. Bowler Jess Kerr, who always looks slightly concerned, wrinkles her nose.
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26th over: England 118-6 ( Jones 26, Dean 18) Another chance I think….as Rowe throws herself forward to pick up a leading edge from Jones – , no actually I think it just falls short.
25th over: England 115-6 ( Jones 24, Dean 17) A run-out chance! Jones – I think it is – hits straight and would have been beaten if the throw had hit. At the half way stage, England need another 93 to win. Runs not an issue here, and New Zealand could do with knocking over one of these two, who are scoring relatively easily.
24th over: England 111-6 ( Jones 22, Dean 15) England rebuilding brick by brick.
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23rd over: England 106-6 ( Jones 19, Dean 13)The magnificent Debbie Hockley pops on comms to celebrate 40 years since New Zealand’s tour of England, apparently it consisted of 12 – 12! - county matches slotted between 3 ODIs and 3 Tests. They drove round England in mini-vans. “It was fun” she says.
22nd over: England 101-6 ( Jones 18, Dean 9) Jonas for her first over, but the field is defensive – too many easy runs, says Alex Hartley. Some more sloppy fielding by New Zealand on the rope gifts Amy Jones a boundary.
21st over: England 93-6 ( Jones 13, Dean 3) Four off the first two balls; Dean sweeps and misses the legspinner.
20th over: England 89-6 ( Jones 12, Dean 3)) An absolute snorter of a ball to complete Tahuhu’s over which lifts with a snarl, bewilders Wyatt who gets a handle? on it and the ball loops up…. but just over the keeper.
19th over: England 85-6 ( Jones 9, Dean 2 ) Melie Kerr again. Tossing it high. Three runs to Jones then its left to Dean who tries, without success, to get her away.
England doing an England here 😬 #NZvENG pic.twitter.com/j2wF510nGE
— Raf Nicholson (@RafNicholson) April 1, 2024
18th over: England 82-6 ( Jones 6, Dean 2 ) Tahuhu hits Wyatt on the elbow, but she picks up a couple next ball. Beaten by the last.
17th over: England 79-6 ( Jones 5, Dean 0 ) Was just about to type that the Jones-Wyatt partnership was looking promising. Beaut of a ball, goes straight through Wyatt and bubbling New Zealand are through to the tail.
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WICKET! Wyatt b A Kerr 16 (England 79-6)
The googly googles! Goes straight through Wyatt and greets the stumps.
16th over: England 75-5 ( Wyatt 15, Jones 2) Wyatt cuts, the ball looks as if it is dribbling to Bezuidenhout but passes straight through her hands and over the rope. She raises her hand in apology, bowler Tahuhu roars with laughter. Same shot again, this time safely stopped.
15th over: England 63-5 ( Wyatt 5, Jones 1) Melie Kerr’s second over safely negotiated and we pause for DRINKS. They have something cool, I’ll race to the kettle.
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14th over: England 59-5 ( Wyatt 1, Jones 0) Tahuhu says hello to Wyatt with a nasty bouncer. – and oh dear, that was a brain freeze of a run-out by England who are now looking on the ropes.
WICKET! Sciver-Brunt run out (Rowe) 12 (England 58-5)
A misfield, Sciver-Brunt hesitates – as if she’s wondering if she’s forgotten her shopping list – before going back for a second – it goes to the third umpire but New Zealand know they’ve got her.
13th over: England 55-4 ( Sciver-Brunt 10, Wyatt 0) Time for some Melie Kerr. Capsey, expressive face, doesn’t look entirely at ease. And there she has to go! Wrong stroke to the wrong/un and NSB was completely right to send her on her way, would have been a right hook through middle strump. New Zealand well on top!
WICKET! Capsey lbw Kerr 0 (England 55-4)
Goes for the reverse, hit plump on the pads, wants to review but looks like NSB sends her on her way!
12th over: England 54-3 ( Sciver-Brunt 9, Capsey 0) Huge wicket for New Zealand! Tahuhu again, Capsey swings the kitchen sink plus refridgerator at her second ball and misses. A wicket maiden.
WICKET! Bouchier c Green b Tahuhu 31 (New Zealand 54-3)
A short one says hit me… Bouchier goes for it but only to Green at square leg. Cockahoop White Ferns!
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11th over: England 54-2 (Bouchier 31; Sciver-Brunt 9) The commentators think that Jess Kerr is a good mix up for Sciver-Brunt – but that’s an over pitched pudding and NSB drives square of cover point for four, and there’s another boundary next ball through the on side.
10th over: England 44-2 (Bouchier 30; Sciver-Brunt 0) Melie Kerr turns to Tahuhu with a new batter – NSB- at the crease. Another glorious stroke from Bouchier who flicks one outside leg stump for four. Good follow up by Tahuhu with a sharp snifter. OOOFFF – Bouchier goes for another big shot and the ball just passes over the fielder’s head.
9th over: England 37-2 (Bouchier 24; Sciver-Brunt 0) A concussion Test for Susie Bates who gets hit on the head after the ball baounces off her hands in the field. Looks unimpressed by having to answer concussion questions. A poi-making workshop is going on around the boundary – and a wicket off the last ball! New Zealand keeping this England batting line-up on their toes.
WICKET! Knight c Green b Kerr 12 (New Zealand 37-2)
Knight, frustrated, tries to flick off her toes to one pitched up and gets a leading edge to midwicket.
8th over: England 35-1 (Bouchier 23; Knight 11) And a fourth for Rowe, as England exchange the strike in a relaxed manner – ah, as I speak, another boundary for Bouchier who flicks, rather majestically, away.
7th over: England 28-1 (Bouchier 18; Knight 9) Kerr’s fourth over – Bouchier has a ping, nicely stopped in the circle by the energetic Plimmer. Some interesting chat on women’s cricket in New Zealand, how players like Plimmer have to learn their cricket in the international arena because they come in without that much experience. Bouchier looking in sparkling form here, swivels and jabs, over midwicket for four.
6th over: England 23-1 (Bouchier 14; Knight 8) Knight enjoying herself out there, replays each shot with a little flick of the gloves. Some relaxed exchanging of the strike between her and Bouchier. Rowe finishes the over with a yorker.
5th over: England 16-1 (Bouchier 10; Knight 6) Knight joins the boundary club, tucking into Kerr, as we see some wholesome families sitting in the stand – it turns out to be the corporate stand above the public loos.
4th over: England 12-1 (Bouchier 10; Knight 2) Better when Rowe pitches it up, Bouchier watches a short one and swings away, in her lovely manner, to pick up another four, helped by a fumble on the rope.
3rd over: England 7-1 (Bouchier 6; Knight 1) Kerr getting some booming swing, Bouchier plays her respectfully. Almost a needless run out, but the throw from Plimmer though fast, wasn’t entirely on pointe. Ah, a breather for England as Bouchier shimmies and swings, a lovely loop which bounces just before the rope.
2nd over: England 1-1 (; Bouchier 1, Knight 0) The tall figure of Rowe, long blond hair back in a high pony tail, and its a cracker of an over, has Knight scratching, playing and missing.
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1st over: England 0-1 (Beaumont 0; Bouchier 0) New Zealand still struggling to contain their amusement – Beaumont baffled by that ball which hit the off stump half way up.
WICKET! Beaumont b Kerr 0 (England 0-1)
Bowled by a full toss that just – just – dipped below waist hight. Kerr completes a bashful celebration.
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England innings - need 208 to win
They’re already out in the middle – Jess Kerr has ball in hand.
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Just having a peak at the teams’ recent ODI records – England have won the last three meetings between the two sides, and seven of the last nine since 2021 but…New Zealand have won their last three home ODI series (against Pakistan, Bangladesh and India).
Good morning, happy Easter and hello to fellow OBOers watching through the witching hours. Time for me to grab a quick cup of tea before we chew the fat.
England need 208 to win the First ODI
Righto, that’s me done for the night. Thanks for your company. Joining you for the chase in a little bit with be Tanya Aldred. Drop her a line at any time. Bye!
WICKET! Kerr b Bell 9 (11). NEW ZEALAND ALL OUT 207.
Bowled her! Around the wicket, Kerr missed and Bell hit – she finishes with 3/41. They lose the last ten wickets for 117. All up, 169 dot balls. It all started in the power play: just 30 runs with the field up. A poor showing from the hosts, there’s no sugarcoating it: they’re just not good enough to consistently compete against Australia and England anymore. Of course, it didn’t help that the visitors – especially Kate Cross with 2/24 from 10) – bowled so well. But the White Ferns let them bowl well to them through multiple quiet periods where the scoreboard pressure wasn’t there.
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48th over: New Zealand 207-9 (Kerr 9, Jonas 0) Fran Jonas is in at No11 and gets bat on ball twice with a couple of short-arm jabs, but neither beat the inner ring.
WICKET! Tahuhu c Wyatt b Dean 1 (2). New Zealand 207-9
Tahuhu tries to clear long-on but doesn’t get enough of it to clear Wyatt, who does well diving forward to make a tough catch look easy. Dean now has three wickets.
WICKET! Gaze b Bell 18 (23). New Zealand 204-8
Once again NZ lose a wicket from the final ball of the over, Bell hitting low on the middle stump when Gaze gave her something to aim at when jumping across her stumps for a lap shot. Again, very nice death bowling with plenty of moving parts.
47th over: New Zealand 204-8 (Kerr 7)
46th over: New Zealand 197-7 (Gaze 13, Kerr 5) Ecclestone to Jess Kerr, who mows her penultimate ball through midwicket for four but it’s a job well done from the No1 bowler going around: that was just the second boundary off her, finishing with 1/39.
WICKET! Rowe c Knight b Sciver-Brunt 16 (20). New Zealand 191-7
That’s a beeeeautiful back-of-the-hand slower ball from Sciver-Brunt, leaping off the surface at Rowe who helps it to cover. All at just 84kpm. It completes an over where only four runs were found until the point where Rowe was lost for the hosts.
45th over: New Zealand 191-7 (Gaze 10)
44th over: New Zealand 187-6 (Gaze 10, Rowe 14) Shot, Hannah Rowe. Gets a little bit of length to work with from Ecclestone so she goes back with purpose and cuts hard through a gap in the covers for a second boundary. But Ecclestone steps up to the new challenge, beating Rowe then keeping her guessing. All told, just five from the over when, with a four in there, they should be finding a way to make twice that many.
43rd over: New Zealand 182-6 (Gaze 10, Rowe 9) Rowe makes the call to take on Sciver-Brunt and picks her up over long-off for what looks a certain six but it half-volleys over the rope for four. But it’s a lovely shot all the same, the best of a limp NZ innings. NSB responds by going short and Rowe looks less comfortable looking but gets away with it to retain the strike. Can she find a way to find the rope off Ecclestone now?
42nd over: New Zealand 173-6 (Gaze 9, Rowe 2) And now Heather Knight can casually throw the ball to Sophie Ecclestone with three overs still to send down. We like Hannah Rowe as a cricketer, she has a lot going for her, but the degree of difficulty here is high and the three dots to finish the over to her are seemingly inevitable.
There have now been 151 dot balls in the innings, TV tells me. Not at all good.
41st over: New Zealand 170-6 (Gaze 7, Rowe 1) Bell is banging it into the turf per the plan in the final ten overs, taking pace off. It works – no boundaries, five runs only in the smaller coins. This is an area of her game that had to improve from where she was at against India back in 2022 and this is a good sign of that growth.
Oh, I missed before that Halliday was Dean’s 50th ODI scalp – in a hurry, too. Star.
Charlie Dean becomes the fastest woman to take 50 ODI wickets, breaking a record that had stood since 1987:
— hypocaust (@_hypocaust) April 1, 2024
Innings bowled
26 Charlie Dean (ENG)
27 Lyn Fullston (AUS)
28 Laura Marsh (ENG); Rajeshwari Gayakwad (IND)
29 Charmaine Mason (AUS); Dane van Niekerk (SA)#NZvENG pic.twitter.com/h1gWSZLIE1
40th over: New Zealand 165-6 (Gaze 3, Rowe 0) Dean sprays one, three wides for the hosts. But when that’s the highlight, well, you get a sense of where this is going for NZ.
WICKET! Green c&b Bell 7 (23). New Zealand 159-6
Bell also has four left, back now. Izzy Gaze, the 19yo ‘keeper, is off the mark with an aerial flick. Can Maddy Green step up and lift her scoring rate here? No, she can not: leading edge, caught and bowled. Soft dismissal just when the White Ferns needed a senior player. Instead, she walks off dismissed cheaply with a strike rate of 30.
39th over: New Zealand 159-6 (Gaze 1)
WICKET! Halliday c Jones b Dean 6 (13). New Zealand 157-5
Dean is the first spinner to return and she’s been the most expensive bowler on show today (1/43 off 6) without bowling particularly badly. Halliday comes down the track to her and drives her through cover for four – that’s the first boundary in 12 overs. But it’s a great response, finding the edge of Halliday, safely snaffled by the ever-reliable Jones. The left-hander sends it upstairs but I’m not sure why – she’s clearly smashed it, so confirmed by technology. Limping along now, the White Ferns.
38th over: New Zealand 157-5 (Green 6)
37th over: New Zealand 152-4 (Green 5, Halliday 2) The squeeze from the seamers since they replaced Dean and Ecclestone has been immense. With Jones up to the stumps, who completes another classy take here, they can almost use them like spinners too with the batters unable to mess with the lengths. Sure enough, Cross finishes her excellent ten overs with a maiden - her final analysis: 10-3-24-2.
36th over: New Zealand 152-4 (Green 5, Halliday 2) And whaddayaknow, Sciver-Brunt starts with four dots on the bounce, then finishes with two singles. It’s been 62 deliveries and 41 minutes since New Zealand’s last boundary. Nowhere near it.
35th over: New Zealand 150-4 (Green 4, Halliday 1) We go RH/LH for New Zealand for the first time but the issue is, at No6 they have another player with plenty of international experience in Brooke Halliday who has never looked like being able to take the step up as an international matchwinner. With 15 overs to go, the visitors can like manage this innings to the finish line, whether they take wickets or not.
WICKET! Kerr lbw b Cross 24 (36) New Zealand 148-4
What a gem of a ball that was, once again squaring up a right-hander, this hitting the middle stump three-quarters of the way up. Cross has 2/22 (8.1) – superb stuff.
HAS CROSS GOT KERR LBW? A replica of the Plimmer dismissal, given out on the field but sent upstairs by the New Zealand skipper. Over to DRS.
34th over: New Zealand 148-3 (Kerr 24, Green 3) Sciver’s turn to dig into her bag of tricks, rolling out cutters in both directions and I think I spied a back-of-the-hand slower ball in there too. Three off the over. From here, it almost certainly has to be Melia Kerr getting herself to do something special or they’re going to be well short.
33rd over: New Zealand 145-3 (Kerr 22, Green 2) Cross starts with another peach of a delivery, squaring up Kerr just as she did Plimmer but Chris Brown this time keeps his finger down on the basis of height… super bowling, though. Next up, she beats Green, the new player in at No5. What a luxury for England being able to bring Jones up to the stumps and making it look so easy, as TV goes through in a nice package they clearly prepared earlier. As for Green, she’s never cracked the code as an international batter.
32nd over: New Zealand 142-3 (Kerr 21, Green 1) Just the over England wanted after the wicket – three singles off Sciver-Brunt, who is playing her role. One thing to note though: Plimmer should’ve reviewed… TV shows the projection and it was going over!
WICKET! Plimmer lbw b Cross 17 (24). New Zealand 139-3
After drinks, it’s Cross who returns to replace Dean – the England attack-leader has four overs up her sleeve. With Jones up to the stumps, she’s beating Plimmer right away with one that hits the seam. On TV, Alex Hartley is arguing the corner of her partner in crime, saying she should be in the T20 squad as well – seems odd that she isn’t. Indeed, this is her first outing for England since September. After moving one away earlier in the over, to Plimmer she gets one to come back and it is nearly spooned to a waiting catcher at midwicket inside the ring. One ball to go and Cross gets the wicket she so richly deserves. Plimmer is squared up a treat, caught on the crease, hit on the back pad and she isn’t going to refer it. Having beaten the bat on seven occasions in her first spell, that’s well-earned by England’s No1.
31st over: New Zealand 139-3 (Kerr 19)
30th over: New Zealand 135-2 (Kerr 18, Plimmer 14) Sciver-Brunt returns to give Ecclestone three to bowl at the death – a role she relishes more than most tweakers. And through the over with four singles - that’s a win for the visitors with their fifth bowler. Drinks are on the field with New Zealand needing a run a ball to reach 250ish.
29th over: New Zealand 131-2 (Kerr 16, Plimmer 12) Plimmer tries to take on Dean around the wicket and nearly ends up gifting a catch to Sciver-Brunt – lucky to get away with that. Kerr is better on the sweep, hitting it with authority, albeit for one. Plimmer’s turn again and drives a wider offering through a small gap in the covers for three more – good cricket. Kerr keeps the strike with a single – better over for NZ. Against the flow of play really, Dean has gone at 7.2 overs with her 1/43 (6) so far.
28th over: New Zealand 124-2 (Kerr 13, Plimmer 8) With Ecclestone, it’s all subtle – tiny changes to her release point creating more dramatic changes of pace – you’ve got to be on it; there are no easy runs. Four off this over – she’s already sent down 7!
27th over: New Zealand 120-2 (Kerr 12, Plimmer 5) Kerr is the batter most likely for New Zealand’s middle order, especially in the absence of Devine. Leading this team in one-day cricket for the first time today, she’ll need to be at her most enterprising. A boundary off Dean to begin the over shows intent, as does her willingness to go across her stumps to attempt the trick shots that so dominate the modern game. Helped along by a ball that run away down the legside, this over of 15r runs was badly needed.
26th over: New Zealand 105-2 (Kerr 5, Plimmer 2) Bates’ dismissal put a stop to New Zealand’s only positive passage of play so far. Since then, it’s England putting the anchors on again with overs of 3, 2 and 2 – this time Ecclestone was getting it right, four dots following two singles. And all done with a smile on her face. Loves it.
25th over: New Zealand 103-2 (Kerr 4, Plimmer 1) This is where Ecclestone and Dean are so good in tandem in the middle overs of ODIs – both accurate and both able to get back to their mark to keep the pressure on the batters. In this case, a couple of singles from the off-spinner and that’s their lot, all in a flash of time. The White Ferns will surely need to go at better than a run a ball from here to get to a credible target.
24th over: New Zealand 101-2 (Kerr 3, Plimmer 0) Georgia Plimmer, the youngster in her hometown who was recalled to the national team last week, is in at No4. Her international numbers across 35 matches are poor, averaging 12 in ODIs and 11 in T20is, but she did have a pretty good ‘A’ series against England, thus the 20-year-old’s return.
WICKET! Bezuidenhout lbw b Ecclestone 33 (62). New Zealand 100-2
The ball after the White Ferns bring up their 100, Bezuidenhout is undone with an ugly swipe across the line against Ecclestone – she missed, the back pad was hit, the finger goes up. No reviewing that. An altogether unconvincing innings comes to an end.
23rd over: New Zealand 98-1 (Bezuidenhout 33, Kerr 3) Five off Charlie Dean and, spoiler, you’re going to want to read the next post as… there’s a development.
22nd over: New Zealand 93-1 (Bezuidenhout 31, Kerr 1) Alright, I’ve managed to get TNT on my actual telly, so we’re just about back in business here tethering my computer to data. Boring, boring but here we are. Sorry! On the field: the captain is in at No3 and is off the mark first ball. Three from Ecclestone’s over.
WICKET! Bates st Jones b Dean 50 (74). New Zealand 90-1
Just when New Zealand were having a good 20 minutes or so, the 21st over, where eight runs had been taken to that point with runs from each ball, ends with Bates running past one and getting herself stumped. Charlie Dean has a golden arm.
20th over: New Zealand 77-0 (Bates 47, Bezuidenhout 29) Five more off Ecclestone is it? That makes three relatively reasonable overs on the trot. White Ferns are go!
19th over: New Zealand 77-0 (Bates 44, Bezuidenhout 27) Ahh, Charlie Dean into the attack – be still my offspinning heart. Big fan of her game. Oh, so is Bezuidenhout though, hitting her first ball for four. Unclear to me where exactly this shot went as I’m still getting my tech to behave. Six off the over. Bare with me.
18th over: New Zealand 71-0 (Bates 43, Bezuidenhout 22) Six off Ecclestone, which is an achievement to begin with. Better still than five of those runs came from Bezuidenhout who might be taking Bates’ lead here. The junior partner still has some catching up to do (like me): she’s 22 from 44. Can she shift gears?
This is all a bit less than ideal – my internet has died, the modem is in my sleeping baby’s room and 4G/5G doesn’t feel like playing ball either. Bare with me! It’s still 0fa.
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17th over: New Zealand 65-0 (Bates 42, Bezuidenhout 17) Good call not going upstairs – was umps call. Bell continues from the Adelaide Road End and it’s a signal for Bates to set the example and live and little, walking down the track and lifting the big quick over midwicket for four. But as has been the custom so far today, the response is a very good one with the ball seaming away from the edge and beating it once again. Ten off the over though – the best of the innings, and something to build from.
16th over: New Zealand 55-0 (Bates 35, Bezuidenhout 15) Her ears were burning – here is Ecclestone, the best in the world. And sure enough, she’s through her first over in about 75 seconds conceding just two singles in the process. There’s a leg before shout to finish with Bates going across her stumps but Heather Knight decides against going upstairs. Close though. New Zealand have absorbed 68 dot balls in 16 overs.
15th over: New Zealand 53-0 (Bates 34, Bezuidenhout 14) Back from the concussion test/drinks – three singles to the sweepers. It won’t be long before Sophie Ecclestone is into the attack here and boundaries will be harder again to come by.
Drinks are called early. This is because Bell, who has been banging a number of balls in short from both ends, has got one into Bezuidenhout’s helmet with the first delivery of the fresh over. She’s fine, but we’re into the concussion protocols, thus the break.
14th over: New Zealand 50-0 (Bates 33, Bezuidenhout 12) Sciver-Brunt hasn’t found any rhythm but there isn’t much pressure the other way so she’s able to work into it. A couple of wides help the hosts, which couldn’t been five if not for Amy Jones diving down the legside to take some pace off the ball. Good response from NSB with her best ball yet, beating Bezuidenhout. But she is able to cut a single to finish, which raises a 50-run stand off the top for the White Ferns. Time to get on with it now, though.
13th over: New Zealand 47-0 (Bates 33, Bezuidenhout 11) After six overs from Cross at the Adelaide Road End it’s back to Bell to follow her, who sent down three from the Vance Stand end with the new ball. She’s keen to keep testing them out with the short ball but there isn’t a lot going on with the pitch. Three singles – that’ll do for England.
12th over: New Zealand 44-0 (Bates 31, Bezuidenhout 10) Bezuidenhout boundary! Makes the most of a Sciver-Brunt short ball, freeing the arms as she’s keen to do. It’s the foundation for the biggest over of the innings with eight coming from it.
11th over: New Zealand 36-0 (Bates 28, Bezuidenhout 5) You don’t see many six-over spells off the top in modern one-day cricket but Knight sees a chance with Cross to suck the life out of the New Zealand innings and fair enough. TV is presenting it, alternatively, as a desperation from Knight to get wickets – I don’t know about that. Nevertheless, Bates does break the shackles with a boundary from the penultimate ball of the over, slicing over backward point for four – it only just made it, but you don’t get any extra runs for hitting the cover off it. Interesting observation in relation to Bezuidenhout on telly saying she can catch up on her strike rate later and look, let’s hope she does. But that’s not the point, is it? Truth told, there’s a longer conversation about the competitive pressure in New Zealand’s domestic cricket relative to their rivals, but that’s probably better to be had outside of an ODI innings.
10th over: New Zealand 30-0 (Bates 24, Bezuidenhout 4) Sciver-Brunt with the final over of a power play that can be seen as solid if you like, in the absence of wickets, but is not in keeping with the modern game. It takes until the second half of the over before singles are exchanged – the last runs with the field up. Just three runs an over with the restrictions in place, putting so much pressure on those to come later.
9th over: New Zealand 28-0 (Bates 23, Bezuidenhout 3) Cross to Bezuidenhout – a chance to continue to turn the screws, beginning with another ball that moves away to beat the bat. She’s too good for her. That’s shown again at the end of the over, one without any runs, trying to heave her across the line and missing again. Maiden. Cross deserves better than 5-2-10-0. Bezuidenhout meanwhile has 3 from 24. Not ideal.
8th over: New Zealand 28-0 (Bates 23, Bezuidenhout 3) Sciver-Brunt is into the attack for the first time, replacing Bell. Bates works out off the back foot into the gap for a couple. An overcorrection follows, on the pads, and she’s waiting for it with a gentle clip behind the square leg ump for her fourth boundary – good batting from the veteran. It’s noted on TV that it was NSB who let Bates off in the second over as well, put down at midwicket. Four dots to finish; two overs left in the power play.
7th over: New Zealand 22-0 (Bates 17, Bezuidenhout 3) Cross again from the Adelaide Road End, which is normally the end you don’t want to be running up from at the Basin but there is reportedly no wind to speak of at Wellington today. Bezuidenhout is no match for Cross in another tidy over, the bat beaten a couple of times. But the real action is on telly when we see a replay from the Bell yorker in the previous over. Guess what? It was toe first not bad, and had England reviewed it would’ve been overturned. So, we’ve seen Bates dropped one-and-a-half times and get out of jail leg before too.
6th over: New Zealand 20-0 (Bates 17, Bezuidenhout 2) Bezuidenhout off the mark! It has taken 12 balls, getting a short ball to hook here from Bell and helping out to deep square leg for a single. That’ll feel good. Bates’ turn but she can’t beat Wyatt in the gully with her cut. A yorker follows, a good one too, but she keeps it out. Two further singles to finish the over, which might help build a bit of momentum for the hosts.
5th over: New Zealand 17-0 (Bates 16, Bezuidenhout 0) Bates down the ground again – another boundary. All bottom hand in the end, she was looking to cover drive before adjusting at the last moment – it does the trick. Oooh, great response from Cross, wobble-seaming it from a dangerous line and length away from the right-handed opener; ever so close to the outside edge. Nice again with the one that comes back the other way off the seam – she really is at the peak of her powers as a bowler right now.
4th over: New Zealand 13-0 (Bates 12, Bezuidenhout 0) Bell to Bates from the RA Vance Stand End – one of my favourite places in the world to watch from. Our radio commentary box for the recently completed New Zealand/Australia men’s Test was up in the roof of that stand – totally run down, but a gorgeous vantage point at the famous old ground. After three dots, Bates manufactures enough room to cut three through point. Bezuidenhout plays out the remainder of the set, untroubled. But she’s now faced ten dot balls, yet to get off the mark – has to find a way through here.
3rd over: New Zealand 10-0 (Bates 9, Bezuidenhout 0) Cross sorts Bezuidenhout out with a beauty to start the new over, very similar to the ball that Bates played and missed to begin the innings. Oh, and again. Super stuff. Whether it’s wobble seam or genuine outswing, she’s got it hooping early here. And now the one coming back – a big shout for lbw, but it is doing too much; no review. Maiden complete - all over her.
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2nd over: New Zealand 10-0 (Bates 9, Bezuidenhout 0) Bates dropped for real this time, with Sciver-Brunt unable to snaffle her at midwicket from Bell’s first ball! The tall seamer sprays one down leg later in the over before giving Bates the chance to drive to finish and she doesn’t miss out, timing it straight for four. Shot.
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1st over: New Zealand 5-0 (Bates 5, Bezuidenhout 0) Uppish from Bates second ball, driving for four but not without risk with mid-on and mid-off inside the circle to begin and Ecclestone not far away from dragging in a diving catch – a half chance, perhaps? Bezuidenhout defends right out the middle to finish – her first ball. Nice start from Cross, who has been taking the first over since Brunt/Shrubsole hung up the boots.
The players are on their way! The legend Suzie Bates is opening up, 36 years young. She has 13 tons, the better part of 6000 ODI runs and has done everything she can to keep this New Zealand team there and thereabouts. She’s opening with Bernadine Bezuidenhout, who, by contrast, averages 18 in 18 ODIs. They need Bates. Kate Cross is going to take the new ball, England’s best in this format over the last few years.
National anthems for an ODI? Really? Okay. Anthems. Here we go.
Let’s get into the mood for this with some New Zealand indie.
England team as named: Tammy Beaumont, Maia Bouchier, Heather Knight (c), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Alice Capsey, Danni Wyatt, Amy Jones (wk), Sophie Ecclestone, Charlie Dean, Kate Cross, Lauren Bell.
New Zealand: Suzie Bates, Bernadine Bezuidenhout, Melie Kerr (c), Georgia Plimmer, Maddy Green, Brook Halliday, Izzy Gaze (wk), Hannah Rowe, Jess Kerr, Lea Tahuhu, Fran Jonas.
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We have sound! A triumph. Sadly, there’s no way to find out what the skippers said at the toss but the graphic on the screen confirmed that Melie Kerr is leading New Zealand in an ODI for the first time today in the absence of injured Sophie Devine.
Wellington looks just as I left it when there for a Test a few weeks ago. Currently 13 degrees, scheduled to reach the lofty heights of 17. No rain forecast. Cloudy, as per.
Heather Knight has won the toss and England are bowling. I wish I could tell you more but there has been no sound on the broadcast since it began five minutes ago. Fun!
Welcome to the 1st ODI between New Zealand's Women and England
One series ends; another begins – modern cricket is no sport for finish lines. After Heather Knight’s side easily won the T20s 4-1 – should’ve been a clean sweep, they botched the chase in the loss – it’s back to the 50-over fare at an interesting time in the cycle, at roughly the halfway mark of the four-year cycle.
I mention that off the top as this is how national teams set up in ODI cricket these days – ultimately, it is all about having the right players prepared to the right levels by the time the quadrennial festival rolls around, 18 months from now in India.
Dealing first with England, they have won seven of their 11 ODIs since the last World Cup in early 2022, the highlight a 2-1 home victory against the Australians last summer. Somewhat depleted during the first leg of the tour due to commitments in India at the Women’s Premier League, they’re back to (more or less) full strength here. On paper, they’re the far stronger team. They will, however, be without legspinner Sarah Glenn who was concussed while fielding in the final T20 win.
As for the hosts, who have been dreadful at global tournaments over the last decade, but in pretty good nick in their home ODIs during this ICC Championship Cycle – i.e. since the last World Cup, where they failed to make the semis at home. It’s unclear whether their superstar captain Sophie Devine has recovered from her quad strain – we’ll find out at the toss shortly. Typically, to seriously push England, they need her firing.
I’ll leave it there for the moment – more thoughts after the toss with the first ball due at 11pm BST. Drop me a line any time.
