England conclude group stage with crushing win v NZ

Visakhapatnam ICC Women’s World Cup

New Zealand 168 (38.2 overs): Plimmer 43 (57), Smith 3-30

England 172-2 (29.2 overs): Jones 86* (92), Tahuhu 1-9

Eight wickets, England won.

With a crushing eight-wicket victory over New Zealand in Visakhapatnam, England will continue to advance to the semi-finals of the Women’s World Cup.

England’s bowling was uncharacteristically sloppy with the ball in a bizarre first innings, but a sluggish New Zealand side managed to escape punishment and was bowled out for 168 in 38.2 overs.

Linsey Smith finished with figures of 3:30 in the powerplay, but England are awaiting the fitness of Sophie Ecclestone, who only managed four balls in the innings after suffering a shoulder injury in the first over.

The chase continued relentlessly until England’s goal, where Amy Jones, who had already won the opener, finished unbeaten on 86, in 29.2 overs.

With England on the verge of victory, Jones added 83 and Tammy Beaumont added 40 as well, making a welcome return to winning form following their defeat by Australia.

Although New Zealand were already eliminated, Sophie Devine, a veteran all-rounder, made her 159th and final one-day international.

Melie Kerr and Georgia Plimmer rebuilt with a steady stand of 68 before the game changed in two balls, with Alice Capsey getting 35 and Plimmer getting Charlie Dean’s 43 on the lbw.

Devine took 23 in her final over, but Capsey and Nat Sciver-Brunt each took two wickets for just 13 runs in the middle.

England travel to Guwahati to play South Africa in the semi-final, which will be played on Wednesday, followed by India v. Australia the following day.

Smith’s powerplay has been a huge success for England throughout the tournament, but it was oddly sloppy in the first few minutes of the group stage, with England already qualified.

At the conclusion of the powerplay, New Zealand reached 57-1, while seamer Lauren Bell bowled too short and Smith lost her rhythm with a number of full tosses and drag downs.

England would not be able to win the game against Australia in particular, but New Zealand, whose subpar campaign had been thwarted by the rain in Colombo, were unable to capitalize on it.

Before fellow opener Plimmer and Kerr appeared untroubled and played with much more intent in an effort to punish England’s inconsistency, Smith was given the wicket of Bates, who chipped midway.

However, Plimmer was trapped on the crease, which led to England’s change in momentum, as Kerr threw her wicket away and was caught off Capsey, who had performed brilliantly as a part-timerr in the absence of Ecclestone.

Ecclestone attempted to bowl after landing awkwardly and failing to save a boundary, and Brooke Halliday’s shocking miscalculation forced the spinner to leave the field just as the match broke out.

Devine joined the ranks of New Zealand batters who made a start but failed to kick on despite England’s off-day with the ball when she nicked behind Jones, which caused an emotional trudge from the field. With only 29.7% of their balls bowled, which is the lowest bowling percentage in any competition game, they hit a good line and length.

After a challenging opening match for England’s openers, Jones and Beaumont have enjoyed Indore’s and Vizag’s more batter-friendly surfaces, which are now in promising form.

Before Beaumont followed suit against Australia, who scored the first fifty-one in the opening match of the tournament because New Zealand’s seamers strayed both sides of the wicket before Jones made her first half-century against India.

England would have appreciated the low target, but Jones and Beaumont added their fourth stand of more than fifty, which is the most of any team in the tournament, without giving a second thought.

Lea Tahuhu’s trappings led to Jones taking charge, who scored a 71-ball half-century with a six from Beaumont.

Before Devine also pinned her in front, which again sparked emotion as she took her final ODI wicket, Knight also continued her excellent form.

Danni Wyatt-Hodge was given a brief break in the middle after being replaced by Emma Lamb, who was struggling, but only 11 runs were needed before Jones whacked her 11th four to complete the victory.