The England tour of New Zealand is underway and we have already seen plenty of action and competition between the two teams. After England women won the first practice match by 20 runs, the hosts NZ stormed back and won the second practice match by 30 runs.
After being placed into the mandatory 14-day quarantine post reaching New Zealand, England women played the first practice game against NZWXI which saw Natalie Sciver, Katherine Brunt shine for their country.
The second match which was played today, saw Katie Perkins win the toss and opt to bat. New Zealand went on to score a mammoth 316/5 on the back of a scintillating inning by Natalie Dodd who missed her century by a mere 9 runs. A quickfire 79 by the new addition to the team, Brooke Halliday, along with a brisk 31 by wicketkeeper Katey Martin helped NZ breach the psychological 300 run mark in their allotted 50 overs.
Apart from Sophie Ecclestone, none of the England bowlers seemed to be able to contain the New Zealand women. In reply, the England batters did not shy away and took the fight to the opposition. Danni Wyatt scored a quick half-century but unfortunately for England couldn’t carry on.
C L A U D I A G R E E N
… just took a 5-wicket bag for NZ XI v England!
Scores: https://t.co/sL7tck2ckX#CENTRALHINDS #CLAUDIAGREEN @WHITE_FERNS pic.twitter.com/D41D9odGCK
— Central Districts Cricket Association🏏 (@CDCricket) February 16, 2021
Sophie Ecclestone (52) along with Lauren Winfield (73) did their best to secure an unprecedented win but in the end, fell tantalizingly short of the target. In such a high-scoring game, where both teams came out all guns blazing, New Zealand fast bowler Claudia Green applied herself and showed her temperament. The only bowler across both teams to bowl her full quota of overs, Green took an economic five-wicket haul to break the back of the England middle order.
Both the teams will now face each other for the first ODI in Christchurch on 23rd February. The two teams will play six limited-overs matches with all eyes on the two NZ newcomers Brooke Halliday and Fran Jonas.
Brief scores-
New Zealand 316/5 (N Dodd 91, B Halliday 79; S Ecclestone 2/38) beat England 286/10 (L Winfield 73*, D Wyatt 54; C Green 5/56) by 30 runs.
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