Achi news desk-
Key events
4th over: England 22-1 (Knight 1, Bouchier 17) Rowe starts the over with a wide, only to drift down the leg side past Beaumont. But next ball she regains her line brilliantly to dismiss Beaumont LBW, bringing England captain Heather Knight to the top. Knight takes just one ball to settle before she gets a quick single to get herself off the mark and bring the strong batsman in Bouchier back into the game. Excellent conversion from Rowe.
WICKED! Beaumont lbw Rowe 3 (England 20-1)
Rowe gets her line just right and the ball hits Beaumont’s pad. She reviews, which is a terrible decision, as three red lights flash and she has to go.
3rd over: England 19-0 (Beaumont 3, Bouchier 16) Looking at the ICC Women’s Championship rankings for ODIs and England can leapfrog South Africa into second place with a win here today. Another over from Kerr here and Beaumont seems content with quick singles and rotational strike, while Bouchier plays the more attacking role. A catch and bowl chance for Kerr with Bouchier playing one straight back to her, but it flies just above her hands.
2nd over: England 8-0 (Beaumont 2, Bouchier 6) Hannah Rowe takes the new ball from the other end and gets a bit of swing away to start. This is the same opening bowling combination they used in the last ODI. They then got a wicket in the ninth over, so hopefully they will reproduce or better this time. Bouchier seems to have settled in well in this game, she is timing it very well and taking the opportunities when they come her way.
1st over: England 5-0 (Beaumont 1, Bouchier 4) Jess Kerr takes the new ball and gets us going at Seddon Park. The pitch is looking a little worse for wear, one of those alternative pitches looks like they are looking forward to a nice break from cricket. Beaumont comes off a shot with a quick single from the first ball, she looks confident from the start. Bouchier gets the first boundary of the game when Kerr gives the ball too much width and it’s an easy little guide to the boundary for four. Kerr tightens her line in response and finishes the overground.
For those wondering, Alice Capsey was not available for selection today.
No rain on the radar today, so it looks like we’ll get a full game in, although there are a few clouds hanging around. It’s around 20 degrees, so nice conditions for the game – not too hot or cold. Quite balmy for this time of year in New Zealand to be honest!
Two changes for England, with Lauren Filer and Sophia Dunkley coming in, while New Zealand bring in Eden Carson for the first time this series. She’s a spinner and it looks like an extra spin will be a good idea today!
Throwing and teams
England have won the toss and elected to bat.
New Zealand XI
Suzie Bates, Georgia Plimmer, Amelia Kerr, Sophie Devine (c), Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Izzy Gaze (wk), Hannah Rowe, Jess Kerr, Eden Carson, Fran Jonas
England XI
Tammy Beaumont, Maia Bouchier, Heather Knight (c), Natalie Sciver-Brunt, Sophia Dunkley, Danielle Wyatt, Amy Jones (wk), Sophie Ecclestone, Charlie Dean, Kate Cross, Lauren Filer
Introduction
Good morning / afternoon / midnight cricket lovers all over the world. Here we are in the final game of this England tour to New Zealand – we’ve had five T20s and two ODIs so far. New Zealand have only managed one win in the series, a three-run win in the third T20. England have been dominant across all the other games, even though they are away from home. New Zealand’s biggest challenge for this final ODI will be to find a way to beat their full 50-over mark, something they have failed to do in the first two matches of this series. They will need big scores from their experienced players if they want to end this series with a win. For England, they will aim to continue as they are – depth down the order has been key for them, with Amy Jones and Charlie Dean getting them out of trouble in the first ODI. It should be a very interesting game, so let’s get into it!
