The third and final ODI between England and New Zealand in Bristol had a more even complexion thanks to Lauren Bell’s five-wicket haul and Amelia Kerr resilient half-century.
In a rain-affected dead rubber, Kerr smashed an impressive 82 off 59 balls and had partnerships worth 68 and 65 runs with Sophie Devine and Brooke Halliday to help New Zealand to a decent total from 42 overs. England leads the series 2-0 already. Following two matches in which they were bowled out for 156 and 141, it was by far New Zealand’s strongest score of the tour.
But Bell’s 5 for 37 from nine overs maintained the mark within reach, particularly considering England’s batting form right now. Throughout the series, the hosts have only lost three wickets and have twice won comfortably within the allotted overs.
After winning the toss, England chose to bat first against New Zealand in the midst of cloudy skies. Soon after, the rain from earlier in the day returned, delaying the start by ninety-five minutes.
Georgia Plimmer was out of the game after a brilliant throw from Charlie Dean, who hit the ball in from backward point, leaving New Zealand down 21 for 1 in the sixth over.
Having having bowled five no-balls in as many overs, Kate Cross was not very impressed with her wicketkeeper’s agility, but rather she was silent in her delight when Amy Jones made a superb catch diving to her right to remove Suzie Bates. Even so, New Zealand were down to 46 for 2 in the ninth over after scoring just 30 runs in the powerplay, which was cut down to eight overs.
Sophie Ecclestone was one of the three England players rested for this encounter, therefore Devine went all out against the other two spinners on the home team. In the following over, she smashed Dean through the covers for another boundary after hitting Sarah Glenn for two fours in three deliveries, past the covers to reach the fifty mark with Kerr, and to deep midwicket.
Devine shaped to cut and chopped onto her stumps, but Bell came back to attack and struck with her second ball back, one that angled in from a full length. Devine dropped her bat and threw her head back in frustration as a promising innings ended for a run-a-ball 43.
However, the White Ferns faltered from 181 for 4 to 182 for 6, with Kerr trapped leg before wicket and Halliday caught behind down the leg side, both falling inside three balls of a Bell over.
Bell’s first international five-wicket haul came after she and Nat Sciver-Brunt combined again to dismiss Izzy Gaze and Lauren Down, with Sciver-Brunt’s steady hands assisting Bell.
In encouraging news for England, Sciver-Brunt scored eight overs in her largest effort of the series despite going wicketless. In the two previous games, she was limited to four and five over stints while recovering from a knee injury.
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