As the 2024 Women’s Twenty20 (T20) World Cup approaches, England will face New Zealand in the 9th warm-up game at ICC Academy Ground 2, Dubai. The match is set to begin at 7:30 PM Indian Standard Time (IST) on the 1st of October 2024. While New Zealand comes off a resounding victory in their first warm-up match, England will be looking to bounce back after their recent loss, setting the stage for an exciting contest.
In their first warm-up match against Australia, England struggled with their bowling, particularly from their top spinners, Sarah Glenn and Charlie Dean. However, a notable positive was the return of Nat Sciver-Brunt to bowl her complete quota of overs, returning figures of 1/23. Chasing a target of 162, Alice Capsey delivered yet another mature performance with a score of 40, while Maia Bouchier and Freya Kemp also contributed, but the team was ultimately bundled out for 129, resulting in a 33-run defeat.
Earlier this summer, England put up strong performances, whitewashing Pakistan in a 3-match T20I series and New Zealand in a 5-match T20I series, both on home soil. Despite having momentum from those series, the heavy loss to Australia highlighted areas for improvement. As they enter the World Cup, England will be eager to turn things around and secure a win in the 2nd warm-up, ahead of their upcoming matches in Group B, where they will face Scotland, South Africa, Bangladesh, and the West Indies.
Struggling New Zealand made a strong statement in their World Cup warm-up match, securing a dominant 8-wicket victory. Eden Carson set the tone with two early wickets, putting South Africa on the back foot, while Melie Kerr and Leigh Kasperek each took three wickets, dismantling South Africa’s batting lineup and bowling them out for just 92 runs. In response, Melie Kerr’s run-a-ball 37 and Sophie Devine’s quickfire 35* (24) guided New Zealand to a comfortable win, marking a welcome return to form.
Earlier this year, New Zealand faced a tough stretch, suffering a 1-4 loss to England at home, a 0-5 clean sweep in an away series against the same opponent, and a 0-3 loss to Australia in another away series. However, they put those disappointments behind with this victory over the 2023 World Cup runners-up in the 1st warm-up. With this newfound momentum, New Zealand will look to build on their success as they head into the World Cup, where they will face stiff competition in Group A, featuring Australia, India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan.
While England has been a dominant force over New Zealand, securing 32 wins from 40 T20Is, it remains to be seen if New Zealand’s newfound form will enable them to secure a victory against in-form England. The latter, despite their strong track record, suffered a loss in their first warm-up match of this World Cup campaign.
Where to watch England vs. New Zealand?
Cricket fans can follow live scores on the ICC match portal for real-time updates on the England vs. New Zealand face-off, match no. 9 of the warm-up series, scheduled for 7:30 PM IST.
Squads:
England –
Heather Knight (C), Danni Wyatt, Sophia Dunkley, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Alice Capsey, Amy Jones (WK), Sophie Ecclestone, Charlie Dean, Sarah Glenn, Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Linsey Smith, Freya Kemp, Dani Gibson, Bess Heath
New Zealand –
Sophie Devine (C), Suzie Bates, Eden Carson, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Fran Jonas, Leigh Kasperek, Melie Kerr, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu
Schedule:
England –
Match 1: September 29, ICC Academy Ground, Dubai, v Australia (7:30 PM IST) – Lost by 33 runs
Match 2: October 1, ICC Academy Ground 2, Dubai, v New Zealand (7:30 PM IST)
New Zealand –
Match 1: September 29, The Sevens Stadium, Dubai, v South Africa (7:30 PM IST) – Won by 8 wickets
Match 2: October 1, ICC Academy Ground 2, Dubai, v England (7:30 PM IST)
Broadcast and live streaming details:
Live scores for the game can be accessed via the ICC match portal for real-time updates.