England produced a dominant display to beat New Zealand in the final T20I at Hove on Monday, May 25, wrapping up the series in emphatic fashion ahead of a home World Cup. With the contest level at 1-1 going into the match, the hosts restricted the visitors to 80 and then chased down the target with plenty of time to spare.
Key takeaways
- England won the series after bowling New Zealand out for 80 in the decider at Hove.
- New Zealand’s innings collapsed to 33/6 at one stage, with England’s bowlers applying sharp pressure.
- Jess Kerr’s resilient 20 provided the main resistance before the tail ultimately failed to extend the total.
- England reached 81/3 in 13.5 overs, completing the chase with 37 balls remaining.
- Suzie Bates managed only 3 off 11 balls before being dismissed as the top order struggled.
New Zealand folded for 80 after early setbacks
Even with Isabella Gaze striking a couple of boundaries and a six, New Zealand struggled from the outset. Suzie Bates got stuck on 3 off 11 deliveries, and the innings continued to unravel when Gaze was removed, leaving the visitors in a vulnerable position.
The middle phase proved particularly costly. Amelia Kerr, Sophie Devine and Brooke Halliday together mustered just 7 runs, allowing England to seize control of the scoring tempo. Sophie Ecclestone then struck again, breaking through Izzy Sharp’s defence to push New Zealand further into trouble and set them back at 33/6.
From there, the fight came primarily from Jess Kerr. She produced a battling 20 that helped New Zealand move beyond 50, but the innings could not gather momentum. In the final stages, the lack of support from the rest of the lineup meant New Zealand were eventually dismissed in the last over.
England’s chase anchored by patient batting
England made a solid start in reply, but the chase was not entirely straightforward. Losing Alice Capsey in the third over meant the hosts still had to stay focused, even as the target sat within reach.
Maia Bouchier played a measured innings, waiting for the right moments and ending unbeaten on 19 from 29 balls. Alongside her, Sophia Dunkley and Heather Knight also contributed important runs, helping England build the required momentum to finish the job comfortably.
With the bowling effort backing them up, England completed the chase with ease, reaching the winning score with 37 balls to spare. Charlotte Dean and Danielle Gibson led the wicket-taking with three dismissals each, while Linsey Smith chipped in with two.
Brief scores
New Zealand 80 in 19.1 overs (Jess Kerr; Charlotte Dean 3-13, Danielle Gibson 3-14) lost to England 81/3 in 13.5 overs (Sophia Dunkley 22; Nensi Patel 1-7) by 7 wickets.
