Shared News • Last updated on Sun, 24 Jun, 2018, 01:14 AM
Sophie Ecclestone picked up 4 for 18 to hand England easy win. © Getty
Just hours after losing to South Africa in the Women’s T20I tri-series, England came back strongly to register a convincing 54-run victory over New Zealand to top the points table. Batting first for the third time in as many games, England rode on Natalie Sciver’s half-century and a cameo from Anya Shrubsole to post a total of 172 for 8. In reply, New Zealand kept losing wickets at regular intervals and were bowled out for 118.
A 37-run opening stand between Tammy Beaumont and Danielle Wyatt provided the hosts a solid platform, only to be set back by quick wickets as they were reduced to 58 for 3. Heather Knight and Katherine Brunt assisted Sciver in rebuilding the innings, which put England on course for a competitive total.
That they managed to finish with 170-plus, especially after Sciver’s dismissal left them at 140 for 7 in the 18th over, was because of Shrubsole’s 11-ball 22 in which she scored two fours and a six.
Four of New Zealand’s top five got off to promising starts in the chase but they failed to capitalise on it, which allowed England to chip away at the wickets. Suzie Bates and Maddy Green both scored 23 but their inability to continue for a longer period meant that New Zealand had lost half their side for only 79 runs on the board, with Knight accounting for two of those wickets.
Sophie Ecclestone ensured that there was no late fightback as she ran through the lower order to finish with a four-wicket haul (4 for 18), registering her career best figures in the process.
Brief scores: England 172/8 in 20 overs (Natalie Sciver 59, Tammy Beaumont 23; Leigh Kasperek 3-35) beat New Zealand 118 in 18.3 overs (Suzie Bates 23, Maddy Green 23; Sophie Ecclestone 4-18)
