Visakhapatnam: England rode on their spinners’ fine effort to register a dominating eight-wicket win over New Zealand in their final group match of the Women’s World Cup here on Sunday.
It was the final ODI appearance of New Zealand skipper Sophie Devine, and there was no fairytale ending as her side could only last 38.2 overs, getting bundled out for a tournament-lowest 168.
The White Ferns were already eliminated from the ICC showpiece, but the win helped England to leap to No. 2 on the table with 11 points behind leaders Australia (13).
The victory propelled England to the second spot on the table with 11 points, trailing leaders Australia (13). England’s spinners played a crucial role in this win, dominating the middle overs despite the absence of their star player Sophie Ecclestone, who injured her shoulder while fielding.
Left-arm spinner Linsey Smith led the bowling attack with figures of 3 for 30 from 9.2 overs, while off-spinner Alice Capsey supported her with 2 for 34. Charlie Dean and Ecclestone, who bowled just four balls before getting injured, each took one wicket, and seamer Nat Sciver-Brunt (2/31) claimed two wickets as New Zealand’s batting lineup collapsed after opting to bat first.
England’s chase was completed in just 29.2 overs, a morale-boosting performance ahead of Wednesday’s semifinal against South Africa. A higher finish could be decisive if the match is abandoned due to rain, as teams with more wins progress under tournament regulations.
England’s response to the modest target was never in doubt, especially after a 75-run opening stand between Beaumont and Jones. They dominated from the start, racing to 75 for no loss in 15 overs to lay a solid foundation. This was their fourth 50-run opening partnership in the World Cup and England’s highest first-wicket stand of the tournament.
Beaumont combined elegant drives with deft placements to score 40 off 38 balls, including seven fours, before being trapped leg-before by Lea Tahuhu after an unsuccessful review. By then, England needed just 90 runs from 35 overs, with the required rate dropping to under three runs per over.
Wicketkeeper-batter Jones, who had struggled earlier in the tournament, found her form just when England needed it most. She confidently stroked the ball through gaps and rotated the strike seamlessly, anchoring the chase with an unbeaten 86 off 92 balls (11 fours, 1 six).
Heather Knight joined Jones in the middle, and together they added a fluent 83-run partnership off 75 balls for the second wicket, virtually sealing England’s victory with 124 balls to spare. Knight was dismissed leg-before by Devine, who took her final ODI wicket. Devine finished with figures of 1/20 in her 159th match, having scored 4279 runs at an average of 32.66 with nine hundreds.
Devine received a heartfelt embrace from her teammates and applause from spectators as she walked off the field–a fitting farewell to one of the modern greats of women’s cricket.
Earlier in her farewell appearance, Devine scored a modest 23 off 35 balls. Suzie Bates, another veteran, continued her poor run, giving away her wicket off a waist-high full toss. After Bates’s early dismissal, Georgia Plimmer provided some excitement, hitting seven fours in her 57-ball 43 and adding 68 runs off 82 balls with Amelia Kerr for the second wicket.
England then struck back, with Capsey removing Kerr for 35 (43 balls, five fours). Dean trapped Plimmer plumb in front on the first ball of the next over, and New Zealand’s innings faltered.
Devine tried to stabilize the innings but was unsuccessful. England had a brief scare when Ecclestone hurt her left shoulder but returned to bowl, dismissing Brooke Halliday with her fourth delivery before leaving the field again and not participating further in the innings.
Brief scores:
New Zealand 168 all out in 38.2 overs (Georgia Plimmer 43, Amelia Kerr 35; Linsey Smith 3/30).
England: 169 for two (in 29.2 overs.)
