The current champions of the ODI World Cup will begin their title defence in a few months’ time, and they seem to be rearing to head into the tournament going by their current performances. England Women to win both the T20I and ODI series against visitors New Zealand Women, who could only win two games out of the eight that were played.
Tammy Beaumont chipped in with one of the T20I performances of the season in the opening game of the tour, welcoming the Kiwis with a 65-ball 97 in the 1st T20I. England’s 184-run total seemed too daunting for the Kiwis, who could only manage 138 runs before getting bundled out.
It seemed like New Zealand might’ve pulled things back in the second game, having won a low-scoring thriller courtesy skipper Sophie Devine’s half century, but Amy Ellen Jones’ brilliant cameo in the 3rd T20I helped England win the final T20I in the final over.
Besides Leigh Kasperek’s brilliant performance with the ball, consistency was far from achieved by the New Zealand players, and that did not help their pursuit.
The ODI series proved to be more one-sided, with Heather Knight kicking off England’s winning spree with a sensational 89 in the first ODI. The English bowlers did a terrific job to defend 241 runs, restricting the Kiwis to just 211, with Nat Sciver, Kate Cross, and Sophie Ecclestone picking two wickets each.
Danielle Wyatt starred with a 72-ball 63 in a rain-marred second ODI, where New Zealand failed to chase down the 183-run target. They could only manage 169 runs, with Charlotte Dean registering figures of 4/36.
NZ managed their second win of the tour, which proved to be their last in the third ODI. Lea Tahuhu’s brilliant all-round show, which includes a five-fer and scoring the winning runs, helped the Kiwis win by three wickets, but their joy lasted only a couple of days.
England managed to bounce back and registered two consecutive wins to wrap up the series. Knight’s century helped them chase 245 runs in the final over, with Danielle Wyatt scoring crucial runs in the death to ensure her side got over the line.
The series finished where it started, with Tammy Beaumont starring in a big win for the English. Her century backed by Amy Ellen Jones’ quickfire 60 helped England post 347 runs batting first, and in response, the visitors got bowled out for 144 runs. Skipper Knight picked up three wickets and helped her side finish the tour with a magnificent 203-run win.
