England ends New Zealand’s World Cup campaign
England secured a nine-wicket victory over New Zealand in their final pool match, leading to the White Ferns‘ elimination from the Twenty20 World Cup. The match, held at the Oval, saw England successfully chase down New Zealand‘s total of 163 for six with 14 balls remaining. This result also means the West Indies have qualified for the semi-finals at New Zealand‘s expense.
The crowd at the Oval reached 21,018, setting a new record for attendance at a Women’s T20 World Cup group-stage match. England‘s win ensured they topped Group B, and they are now expected to face either India or South Africa in the semi-finals, pending the outcome of a Group A match between Australia and India.
Key performances and retirements
New Zealand, who chose to bat first, posted a score of 163 for six. Captain Melie Kerr was the top scorer for the White Ferns, contributing 42 runs from 34 balls. Sophie Devine, in her final international match, made 30 runs from 14 balls, including three sixes. Suzie Bates also batted effectively, scoring 19 runs from 13 balls before being run out on the final delivery.
However, England‘s chase was dominated by an unbroken second-wicket partnership between Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Sophia Dunkley. The pair combined for a stand of 128 runs, guiding England to victory. Wyatt-Hodge was named player of the match for her unbeaten 89 runs from 53 balls, while Dunkley finished with an unbeaten 49 runs from 38 balls.
The defeat marked the end of the international careers for three prominent White Ferns players: Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates, and Lea Tahuhu, all of whom are retiring. Devine played 316 white-ball matches for New Zealand over a 20-year career. Tahuhu participated in 206 matches over 15 years. Bates retires as the most capped White Fern and the highest run-scorer in the team’s history, accumulating 10,721 runs across 369 games.
Earlier in the day, Ireland‘s victory against the West Indies had offered New Zealand a chance to advance to the semi-finals if they could defeat England. However, the White Ferns were unable to secure the necessary win. Melie Kerr acknowledged the team’s disappointment, reflecting on earlier missed opportunities, stating, “It’s been a disappointing campaign for us. I look back to our first two games – catches win matches and unfortunately we couldn’t hold onto them. We were outplayed tonight.”
England’s confidence and New Zealand’s farewell
England‘s head coach, Charlotte Edwards, expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, particularly given that the semi-final will also be played at the same venue. She noted the team’s high confidence heading into the semi-finals, with the ultimate goal being a final at Lord’s. The strong performance by Dunkley, who has made significant contributions in two group-stage games, presents a selection dilemma for Edwards, especially with Nat Sciver-Brunt expected to return from injury.
During New Zealand‘s innings, a sharp fielding display by England, including Charlie Dean‘s direct hit to run out Brooke Halliday, limited their scoring opportunities. The White Ferns experienced periods of losing wickets in clusters, including a collapse from 70 without loss to 70 for three in just four balls. The loss of both Halliday and Sophie Devine in the 16th over further slowed their momentum.
A brief rain shower interrupted England‘s chase seven overs in, but the delay was short, lasting only 15 minutes. Upon their return, England quickly completed the chase. At the conclusion of the match, England players formed a guard of honour on the Oval outfield to acknowledge the retiring New Zealand veterans.
Source: rnz.co.nz
