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Alice Capsey-led England beat New Zealand by 6 wickets to clinch the T20I series at The Spitfire in Canterbury.
Capsey (67 not out) steered the ship and reached his half-century at a steady pace, with six fours and a six to help him achieve his best score for England.
Freya Kemp (16th) also had a decisive performance that helped her team post the tourists for 141-8 all out, adding 11 runs in the 19th over.
Fran Jonas (2-23) took two crucial wickets in two balls for the White Ferns, dismissing Sophia Dunkley (35) and Nat Skiver-Brunt (0), but denied a fielding error in the last over to give England victory. 3-0 lead in the five-match series.
Sophie Ecclestone (4-25) laid the foundation for England with her four-fer, two-wicket haul in the eighth over, controlling the New Zealand batsmen and setting the hosts a target of 142 runs.
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Sophie Ecclestone took 4 for 25 to lead New Zealand to victory
England went into the match with a 2–0 series lead and as their World Cup preparations continued, captain Heather Knight was rested, with Danny Wyatt and Lauren Bell, Dunkley, Lauren Filer and Kemp coming into the squad.
They will now target wins at The Oval and Lord’s to secure a series sweep.
A mixed capsicum makes a difference in New Zealand drop catches
England got off to a tough start in their chase of 142 as Mia Bouchier (0) fell lbw off the first delivery of Hannah Rowe (1-16).
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England got off to a poor start after Mia Bouchier was caught for a duck off the first delivery of the innings.
Capsey and Dunkley formed a strong partnership for the job as they guided England to a half-century at the end of the powerplay.
England were reduced to 66-3 when New Zealand finally fell in the ninth over with successive deliveries from Jonas, an lbw for a golden duck.
From there, Capsi controlled the game, after adding 11 runs in the 11th over, saved by a brilliant review of an lbw in the 12th over, England needed 60 runs from 50 balls.
Score Summary: England win by six wickets
England: Sophia Dunkley (35 runs off 26 balls), Alice Capsey (67 runs off 60 balls), Freya Kemp (16 runs off 8 balls); Sophie Ecclestone (4-25), Lauren Filer (2-17)
New Zealand: Suzy Bates (38 runs off 27 balls), Amelia Kerr (23 runs off 18 balls), Sophie Devine (58 runs off 42 balls); Fran Jonas (2-23)
Amy Jones (19) was then dismissed by Georgia Plimmer in the 14th over and Sophie Devine in the 16th over, with the fielding becoming New Zealand’s Achilles heel.
Moving forward, Capsey reached his half-century in 50 balls, but the pressure was on as the match drew to a close and Jones left England on 120-4.
Aiming for 17 off 12 balls, Kemp came in and added 11 in the 19th over before Capsey hit a home run on a mistake by Jonas.
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England secured their third T20I win as Fran Jonas misplaced Alice Capsey’s tongue and the ball rolled into the boundary.
Ecclestone shows his class with four wickets
After winning the toss and electing to bat, England spoiled New Zealand’s opening, with Filer (2-17) ducking Phillimer (0) and Skiver-Friend taking a fine catch to put the visitors 5-1 up. In the first over.
Susie Bates (38) played with intent and Kemp (1-38) bowled four fours in an over in quick succession to move New Zealand to 47-1 at the end of the powerplay, with Kerr (23) scoring a half-century. After 6.1 overs it was his most productive start in a T20I series so far.
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Sophie Ecclestone broke New Zealand’s momentum with key wickets of Suzy Bates and Amelia Kerr in the same over.
Although New Zealand batted well, an over from Ecclestone changed the game as he removed the strong partnership of Bates and Kerr to reduce their total to 62-3, his brilliant delivery against the latter a highlight.
With New Zealand at 68-3 midway through the innings, Sarah Glenn (1-14) picked her moment as Skiver-Friend took her third catch to remove Brooke Holliday (9) from Glenn’s brilliant catch off a delivery. De Filer then dismissed Maddy Green (5) to reduce New Zealand to 96-5.
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Sarah Glenn makes a sensational diving catch to eliminate Maddie Green
Ecclestone showed why he is the best bowler in the world with a superb delivery that smashed the stumps of Isabella Gass (2) before Kemp got Rowe (0) out with a perfect yorker.
New Zealand skipper Devine (58) found some rhythm towards the end of the innings as he hit a Kemp homer in the 18th over for a big half-century, but as his teammates continued to fall around him, Lee Kasperek (1) finished off Ecclestone. England managed to equalize as New Zealand finished their innings on 141-8.
They said: “We showed the depth of our squad
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Nat Sciver-Brunt praised his team’s ‘depth’ and ‘calmness’
England captain Nat Skiver-Friend…
“I would have liked a little more from myself, but I was confident with the depth we had.
“He was nervous, but the composure they showed was great.
“Putting yourself under that kind of pressure, you don’t want to do it too often, but it will be perfect to learn from it and take it to Bangladesh.”
Player of the Match, Alice Capsey…
“We had a good start and were feeling good. We followed our plans. Kemp came on and that second last over was great.
“We were both in the zone and it was nice to get to the end.
“I love batting at No. 3, it’s a great place to bat. I feel like I have a good understanding of my game. At the end of the day, I want to win for England.
What’s next?
Saturday, July 13 at 6:30 p.m
England and New Zealand travel to The Oval on Saturday, July 13 for the fourth T20I. Watch live on Sky Sports Cricket from 6.15pm (first pitch at 6.30pm). Stream the series without a contract with NOW.
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