The commentary is not available for this match. Please check the scorecard for latest updates.
What a game this has been! Filled with drama, twists, turns, and some top quality cricket, just the way we like it. Incredible performances from both the teams, New Zealand, for battling against all odds, and putting up a very good score on the board. But England, showing their calibre, chasing down 245, and setting a new record for the highest ever total chased by the England Women's side. This game had it all, and it went down right to the final over. Kasperek will be devastated with how the game ended, but she can only learn and go up from here. Heather Knight showed us why she is one of the worlds best batters, and has led her team to another series victory.
England have won the series 3-1, but there is still one more game to go. New Zealand will be coming out yet again, looking for the win, playing for pride, and playing to show the world what they are capable of. England on the other hand, will come out with the winning mentality as well, as they'll be looking to show the world how dominant they are, by winning the final game and making it 4-1 in the series. It has been a gut wrenching series so far, and I promise you, come Sunday, it will be no different. So don't forget to join us then. For now, along with Dwijesh, I have been Ankit Sharma, as I wish a goodnight!
England win the game by 3 wickets New Zealand - 244/8 (50 overs) England - 245/7 (49.3 overs)
What a game this has been! An absolute humdinger, with both teams going neck and neck till the very last over. New Zealand Women did a fantastic job to put up 244 on the board, but they knew they needed something special with the ball as well, if they are to overcome the threat of the English. The top order did fail for New Zealand, but it was the middle order that rose, showed a class of their own, and brought in all their experience to play today. Amy Satterthwaite and Katey Martin brought up their respective half centuries, and were supported by skipper Devine, who fell just short of hers. New Zealand had a real chance to level things up and go into the fifth game, which could have been a decider.
But it was not meant to be, as Heather Knight had other ideas. New Zealand could not pick the early wickets in the powerplay, as Beaumont and Winfield-Hill got off to a positive start, scoring runs easily and finding the gaps. They stitched together a 52 run partnership, but right after the powerplay they were both sent back, along with England's number 4 Nat Sciver, in a span of 6 overs. Hannah Rowe was bowling some impressive line and lengths, and was the destructor, picking all three wickets in back to back overs.
In walked Amy Jones, who needed to support her skipper, Heather Knight in rebuilding England's chances and keep them in the chase. She just did that, as she played second fiddle to her skipper, and was the perfect anchor, scoring 40 runs off 63 deliveries. But it was all about the England skipper today. Heather Knight, with an innings to remember. The way she batted, the way she stuck her neck out for the team, and the way she helped her team to victory, were all marvelous.
She came out to bat, and was out there when England were in trouble, but she trusted herself, and got down to business. She started off cautiously, letting the heat simmer down, and then took charge. She picked her shots really smartly, and scored ample of runs through ones and twos. Amy Jones was doing whatever her skipper wanted off her, while Knight kept picking up boundaries, and fighting back into the game.
New Zealand failed to get either of the two batters till they brought up their 100 run partnership! Amy Jones was the 4th casualty, and it was Hannah Rowe yet again, to pick a wicket. Dunkley made a guest appearance in the middle, as Satterthwaite sent her back almost immediately, but then walked in Danielle Wyatt to apply the finishing touches to England's comeback. She scored some brilliant boundaries, took the pressure off her skipper and scored quickly.
But it was all Heather Knight, who was still out there, finding the gaps, and racking up boundaries. She played a captain's knock, just what the team needed. She brought up her 2nd ODI century, just what she needed to get back into runs, and it was all meant to be. After a slow start, she picked up the pace and finished with 101 off 107. But there was a late twist in the tale, as New Zealand managed to get rid of both, Wyatt and Knight in the penultimate over, credits to Sophie Devine.
With 6 off 6, it was still England's game, and Shrubsole was put the icing on the cake, as she came down to smack Kasperek for a boundary straight down the ground. Kasperek, under pressure, with just a run needed for the one, bowled a wider one to Eccleston, who was on strike, Ecclestone was not only beaten, but was also stumped. The White Ferns went up in cheers, but the umpire knew the game was over! Kasperek's ball was too wide, and was given a wide ball. Not a very happy ending for the White Ferns, but that is what this game can do!
Sophie Devine (New Zealand Captain): It's been an outstanding game of cricket, but full credits to heather to bat the way she did, bat all the way through, and steer the innings single handedly away from us. It's time to show the world what we've done, and we wanted to show what this team can do. Unfortunately we aren't getting the results our way, but it's a process and we're happy with the way were improving and competing. Martin was good, we know what she is capable of, and it was really nice to see her play her natural way and pick those runs. Hannah and Hayley were brilliant with their bowling partnerships, and we're missing out two of our frontline bowler's but despite that, it was a splendid effort from the bowlers today.
Heather Knight (England Captain): Player of the game: It was so frustrating when I got out. I wanted to be out there to win it. Batting hasn't been ticking as well, but it was a good feeling to bat today and get some runs under my belt. Wanted to be out there for the winning runs, but still happy with the win,. It's been a long time coming, my century as i've managed to get a few fifties but it's great to pick the century today. The bowlers were brilliant, especially Hayley, who was hard to put away. It was a great partnership with Amy to dig out the team and come back into the game. When the lights came on it got a little easier to score runs so it made life for us a bit easier. We're looking forward to the World Cup, and we're happy with the way our team is going. Danni took the pressure off me today, scoring a few boundaries, and she's made her little role for herself in the team. We know what she's capable of, so really happy she could contribute too. Shrubsole was nervous with her first over, but it's great to have her back. The way she bowled after that, picking up 3 wickets, was crucial for us, so really happy with her performance.
Anya Shrubsole: It always feels good to win a game, especially after waiting on the sidelines for a while. I prefer not to bat, but i'm glad we saw the game through today. It's good to be back and its a surreal feeling winning these close encounters. Knight has been a brilliant player for as long as she has played, and it was a special innings today, to produce something of this nature, and turn the game around.
WOW! How often do you see that? When was the last time you saw a team winning on a delivery, where they've lost a wicket! England have done it, after a long innings, of being tested, of being challenged, the English Women, come through, and it's a wide ball at the end, that gives them the win. Kasperek's idea to pitch the ball wide away from the batter was on the money, but it was just a little too wide. It's a heartbreak for the White Ferns, and Kasperek is devastated right now! But this is what the game is all about! England win by 3 wickets!
49.4 Leigh Kasperek to Sophie Ecclestone, WIDE! An anti-climatic end to this game! England WINS! It was a loopy delivery bowled outside off, Ecclestone steps out and misses out on it. Martin effects the stumping but the umpire's call is a wide, which hands England the win. The final ball sums up Kasperek's outing with the ball but it was been a brilliant run chase from the English!
This is a test match field for Ecclestone! Everyone is inside the circle and New Zealand are not done yet!
49.3 Leigh Kasperek to Anya Shrubsole, SCORES ARE LEVEL! A full ball bowled into the stumps, Shrubsole plays it straight down the ground for a single
A dot ball! Very very important, but England should surely see this one through now. 2 runs off 4 balls needed.
49.2 Leigh Kasperek to Anya Shrubsole, a length ball bowled outside off, Shrubsole plays it back to mid-off for no runs
Video
;'/></svg>)
N Sciver
A Satterthwaite
;'/></svg>){kind=small}
County Ground, Derby
