England is hosting New Zealand, led by skipper Amelia Kerr, for a white-ball series that includes a three-match ODI series followed by a three-match T20I series from 10th May to 25th May 2026. The 1st ODI was a nail-biting edge-of-the-seat thriller, with the home side eventually getting over the line by 1 wicket in the penultimate over of the innings to take a 1-0 lead in the series.
The 2nd ODI of the series was washed out due to rain. The rains threatened to play spoilsport in the White Ferns veteran Suzie Bates ODI farewell in the 3rd ODI. However, the rain god’s showed some mercy to allow a rain-curtailed 33-over game at the Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, on 16th May 2026. The home side made a couple of changes, Jodi Grewcock returned to the side, replacing Maia Bouchier, and Lauren Filer replaced Tilly-Corteen Coleman in the starting 11. New Zealand retained the same side that took the field in the previous game.
Alice Capsey and Amy Jones guide England to a competitive total
England lost Emma Lamb early in the 2nd over of the innings. Bree Illing provided the first breakthrough for the White Ferns. Heather Knight and Jodi Grewcock led the recovery with a 40-run partnership for the 2nd wicket. Rosemary Mair broke the stand, by sending Jodi Grewcock back to the pavilion in the 11th over of the innings, providing the 2nd breakthrough for her side.
Another vital 57-run stand for the 4th wicket between Freya Kemp and Alice Capsey took them past the 100-run mark. Skipper Amelia Kerr dismissed Freya Kemp (20 off 28 balls) in the 25th over of the innings, providing the 4th breakthrough for her side. A brisk 45-run partnership for the 7th wicket between stand-in skipper Charlie Dean, 16* (16 balls) and Amy Jones (27 off 21 balls) provided them the finishing touches, taking them past the 150-run mark.
England eventually ended up with a total of 181/7 in their quota of 33 overs. The innings had 19 extras. Alice Capsey (45 off 45 balls) and Heather Knight (28 off 42 balls) chipped in with vital contributions with the bat for England. Bree Illing (7-0-29-2), Rosemary Mair (7-0-41-2), Jess Kerr (7-0-31-1), Nensi Patel (4-1-23-1), and skipper Amelia Kerr (6-0-40-1) were the top performers with the ball for New Zealand.
Brooke Halliday and Isabella Gaze guide New Zealand to a big win
Chasing a revised total, Suzie Bates departed for 12 (15 balls) in her final ODI appearance for the White Ferns, in the 3rd over of the run chase after a 21-run opening stand alongside Georgia Plimmer. The visitors were reduced to 40/3 in the 7th over of the run chase. Brooke Halliday joined Maddy Green at the crease, and the duo led the recovery with a crucial 57-run partnership for the 4th wicket, which took them closer to the 100-run mark.
Danielle Gibson broke the stand by sending Maddy Green (37 off 43 balls) back to the pavilion in the 18th over of the innings, providing the 4th breakthrough for the home side in the 18th over of the innings. Isabella Gaze (22* off 23 balls) joined Brooke Halliday (42* off 54 balls) at the crease, and the pair were solidifying their side’s position with another vital 44-run, unbeaten 5th wicket stand.
However, the rains arrived in the 25th over of the run chase with the White Ferns at 141/4. The visitors were 17 runs ahead of the DLS par score, which played in their favour as the persistent nature of the rains ensured the game was called off, and New Zealand levelled the series with a 17-run win.
Lauren Bell (5.4-0-29-3) and Danielle Gibson (4-0-21-1) were the stand-out performers with the ball for England. Brooke Halliday was awarded the Player of the Match, and Maddy Green was awarded the Player of the Series for scoring 125 runs at a strike rate of 83.33 and an average of 62.50 in a couple of innings, including a half-century in three matches.
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