Former champions England showcased a clinical all-round performance, overwhelming New Zealand by eight wickets in their concluding Women’s World Cup league match held in Visakhapatnam on Sunday. This victory firmly positioned England in second place on the table with 11 points, just behind formidable rivals Australia, thereby setting up an anticipated semi-final clash against South Africa.
New Zealand’s captain Sophie Devine shakes hands as she receives a guard of honour. (AP Photo)
With their semi-final qualification already secured, England utilized this match to refine their strategies, particularly focusing on their potent spin attack. The formidable quartet of Linsey Smith, Charlie Dean, Alice Capsey, and Sophie Ecclestone systematically dismantled the White Ferns’ batting lineup, collectively claiming seven crucial wickets. New Zealand, initially looking comfortable at 89-1, suffered a dramatic collapse after losing Amelia Kerr and Georgia Plimmer in quick succession. This triggered a devastating downturn where their last five wickets fell for a mere 13 runs, resulting in them being bowled out for just 168 in under 39 overs – their lowest total of the tournament.
Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt expressed her satisfaction with the team’s effort: “We wanted to put in a good performance. Really happy with that effort and we take a lot of confidence heading into the semis.” However, England did face a moment of concern regarding Sophie Ecclestone’s shoulder injury. The world’s top-ranked bowler had impressively secured the key wicket of Brooke Halliday before being forced to leave the field after delivering only four balls. Her absence was somewhat mitigated by part-timer Sophia Dunkley, whose wrist spin adeptly complemented England’s already strong spin arsenal.
The chase proved to be straightforward for England. An opening partnership of 75 runs between Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones laid a solid foundation. This was seamlessly followed by an 83-run stand between Jones and skipper Heather Knight, which comfortably guided England to victory with 124 balls to spare. Amy Jones remained unbeaten on a superb 86 runs, achieving her 16th Women’s One-Day International half-century with a magnificent six off Suzie Bates.
The match also held a poignant significance as Sophie Devine played her final Women’s One-Day International. Although she couldn’t make a significant impact in this particular game, Devine concludes her illustrious career as New Zealand’s third-highest run-scorer (4,279 runs) and second-highest wicket-taker (111 wickets). Both teams honored her remarkable journey with a heartfelt guard of honour, during which Devine reflected, “I am humbled to have played for my country for 19 long years. Today’s performance was disappointing, but it’s been an incredible journey.”
As England confidently advances into the knockout stage, New Zealand concludes its campaign on a reflective note after what proved to be a challenging tournament.