MATCH REPORT : England v New Zealand

Nat Sciver not only scored her second hundred of the tournament and took England into the semi-finals, but she created her own shot - the Natmeg - clipping a full ball on her leg stump through her own legs - not once, but twice!!

It epitomised the confidence with which she, and indeed the whole of the England team, are batting at the present time.

England ended up comfortable winners, by 75 runs, against a workmanlike Kiwi team, thanks to a partnership of 170 between Tammy Beaumont (93) and Sciver (129), which took them to a formidable 284/9 in their 50 overs.

Having won the toss Heather Knight had no hesitation in batting, but when Lauren Winfield, Sarah Taylor and she herself, were all out with the score on 52 in the 14th over, it looked like England may struggle to set a total that would put fear into the Kiwi batsmen. But that was not to count for Beaumont and Sciver.

Beaumont had made a cautious start, but buoyed by the assurance of Sciver she began to find the gaps in the field, and the two of them ran sharp singles and turned ones into twos. You could almost hear Mark Robinson purring from the Press Box! Both made serene progress to their respective 50s off 59 (Beaumont) and 55 (Sciver) balls and to their 100 partnership (111 balls). Sciver then offered a chance to Leigh Kasperek at backward square, but lack of movement saw the ball speed through her hands and to the boundary. It was to prove a costly mistake.

Together they saw the England score past 200 and the innings into the last 10 overs, but just as they both looked to cut loose they fell - Beaumont seven short of a deserved ton and Sciver six overs later for a magnificent 129. Thereafter the England innings sagged rather like a souffle after being removed from the oven, limping to 284/9 from 270/5, but the taste in the mouth was still pretty sweet.

285 was a massive ask, but New Zealand looked in touch while Suzie Bates (44) and Amy Satterthwaite (35) were at the crease, taking their team to 90/1 in the 20th over. But a beautifully flighted spinning ball from Alex Hartley flitted past the outside edge of the oncoming Bates's bat, and Sarah Taylor removed the bails to remove Bates. Two overs later Satterthwaite fell to a caught and bowled from Laura Marsh, and the game was gone - New Zealand did not have a Nat Sciver coming in at 5. The Kiwis plugged on, but lost wickets regularly with only Katie Perkins (43*) putting up any significant resistance. It was fitting perhaps that Hartley, who had started the beginning of the end, finished it off, getting Huddleston lbw for a 13 ball duck, with New Zealand on 209.

The result meant that England are through to the semi-finals, as are Australia and South Africa, who also won their games against India and Sri Lanka. For New Zealand they stay in Derby for Saturday's winner-takes-all game against India.

Comments

  1. England might be well advised to win against the West Indies. Why, well apart from the obvious fact that winning is why they play any match :-

    1. They will minimise the chances of meeting Australia in the SFs. If England win, it would take a big defeat for Australia and a big win for India to relegate Australia to 4th place and set up an Eng/Aus SF. [Apologies to NZ,SA and IND fans but I consider AUS to be harder to beat]

    2. They will play at Bristol, their preferred location, if they can stay in 1st place (they would end up in Bristol by losing and, other results permitting, coming 4th and thus facing SA but this option is both very risky and daft). Bristol, given they are there on Saturday, would also mean less travel.

    3. The 1st v 4th is played on Tuesday giving the winner more preparation time for the final.

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  2. England have played some brilliant cricket in these championships and have been a pleasure to watch as well. Sciver is not only delivering on the promise she's showed for a few years now, but taking her game to an entirely new level. What a player. And Beaumont as well, really pleased for her great performances.

    I'll be focusing on the England-WI and NZ-India games on Saturday, those are the ones with the most riding on them for me. The "wooden-spoon" contest might get close too. Aus-SA is not quite a dead rubber but SA don't have the biggest motivation to win, so I expect a routine Aus victory, no doubt chasing again if they get the chance. NZ-India is effectively a quarter-final and could be really close. I think India fare best at Derby on the slightly drier and more spin-friendly surfaces there. Although the fact that we will have a new pitch for the final group game and semi-final will please NZ more I expect. Overall I'd say NZ should just come through.

    I think the most likely combination of results will give Australia-NZ (Thurs) and England-SA (Tues) semi-finals, but who knows really! I think England will probably avoid Aus in the semi as both these teams are likely to finish in 1st or 2nd, but we could end up playing any of NZ, SA or India in the semi. All are tough prospects!

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