By Admin 
England put a spanner in the works of New Zealand’s plans to give skipper Sophie Devine a triumphant send-off, consigning it to an eight-wicket defeat in a Women’s ODI World Cup fixture at the ACA-VDCA Stadium here on Sunday.
The White Ferns’ total of 168 in 38.2 overs was never going to be enough — even though the pitch was taking spin with the odd ball staying low — as England cantered to a victory in 29.2 overs. Opener Amy Jones (86 n.o., 92b, 11×4, 1×6) showed impeccable composure and anchored the near-perfect run chase.
The story of the match, however, was not about in what manner Nat Sciver-Brunt & Co. reached 172 for two, but how their spinners dominated the Kiwis.
The tweakers accounted for seven of the 10 New Zealand wickets, with Sciver-Brunt (two for 31) and a run out completing the haul.
Linsey Smith claimed three for 30.
| Photo Credit:
K.R. DEEPAK
Linsey Smith (three for 30), who was struggling to grip the new ball, got her first wicket with a harmless waist-high full-toss as Suzie Bates failed to clear mid-off with her flat-batted slap.
Georgia Plimmer (43, 57b, 7×4) and Amelia Kerr (35, 43b, 5×4) put on 68 in 81 balls for the only meaningful partnership of the essay.
However, the New Zealand innings lost steam once Amelia and Plimmer got dismissed either side of Devine’s entry into bat for the final time in ODIs.
The Kiwis then suffered a collapse, sliding from 155 for five to 168 all out. It was Devine’s dismissal by her opposite number Sciver-Brunt for 23 which triggered the collapse.
The only matter of concern for England, especially ahead of the semifinals, was Sophie Ecclestone’s injury scare. The 26-year-old had gone off the field after hurting her left shoulder while diving to stop a ball in the first over. The left-arm tweaker came back but could not complete the 23rd over even though she removed Brooke Halliday with her final ball of the match (0.4-0-4-1).
England’s attention will now shift to South Africa and the last-four clash in Guwahati on Wednesday, whereas the White Ferns’ top priority will be crafting a roadmap for the post-Devine era in their ODI set-up.
The scores: New Zealand 168 in 38.2 overs (Georgia Plimmer 43, Amelia Kerr 35, Linsey Smith 3/30) lost to England 172/2 in 29.2 overs (Amy Jones 86 n.o., Tammy Beaumont 40, Heather Knight 33); Toss: NZ;PoM: Jones.