Match Report

5th ODI England v New Zealand

England women romped to a six-wicket victory today over New Zealand in the final one-day international to secure the ODI series 3-1 and to complete the most successful tour ever of Australia and New Zealand.

England captain Charlotte Edwards won the toss and elected to field on a cold, overcast morning at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval at Lincoln University.

Beth Morgan was brought back into the England side for Steph Davies. Aimee Mason continued to captain the White Ferns in place of the injured Haidee Tiffen. Beth McNeil and Amy Satterthwaite were replaced by Sarah Burke and Ros Kember.

Mason and Katey Martin opened the batting for the hosts, while Katherine Brunt bowled the first over for England from the pavilion end. Nicky Shaw opened with her.

In Brunt's second over she dismissed Martin for six; Laura Marsh, fielding at first slip, took the catch off a leading edge from Martin to see New Zealand 7-1 and Ros Kember headed to the middle. Brunt went on to complete a wicket maiden.

Brunt and Shaw bowled tightly and Mason only got off the mark in the sixth over with two runs off Shaw.

Jenny Gunn came on first change for England in the 14th over and Guha took over bowling duties from Brunt at the pavilion end. In the 17th over Guha had Kember caught behind by Sarah Taylor on the first ball after the first drinks' break for 16. Ingrid Cronin-Knight came to the crease, but was trapped lbw on the fifth ball of the same over for nothing. She was replaced in the middle by Sara McGlashan and New Zealand were 61-3.

 

Marsh replaced Gunn at the city end after Gunn had bowled three overs. Shaw came back on in the 34th over after the drinks break and clean-bowled Mason on the first ball of the over for 67. It was the end of an 88-run stand between Mason and McGlashan. New Zealand were 149-4 as in-form Sarah Tsukigawa joined McGlashan.

The following over McGlashan (48) was clean-bowled by Edwards, who had come into the attack in the 31st over. As Nicola Browne made her way to the middle, New Zealand were 152-5. Browne made seven, before being trapped lbw by Shaw and Lucy Doolan replaced her at the crease with New Zealand 168-6.

Tsukigawa (36) was the next to fall for New Zealand after adding 59 to the total with Doolan. Marsh bowled her on the second ball of the 48th over and Sophie Devine joined Doolan in the middle. Devine made two before being stumped by Sarah Taylor off Edwards' bowling on the second ball of the penultimate over. Sarah Burke headed out with New Zealand 230-8 and just ten balls remaining. She was run out in the final over after Marsh had bowled a full toss and Rachel Candy made her way out with four balls left. New Zealand finished 241-9 with Doolan unbeaten on 42 and Candy on
nought.

England's bowlers shared the wickets around with Shaw, Guha and Edwards all taking two wickets. Brunt and Marsh took one apiece.

In reply England made a solid start putting on 76 for the first wicket. Caroline Atkins, opening with Sarah Taylor, made 28 before she was bowled by Devine in the 19th over as she played on.

Claire Taylor needing 39 runs to reach 3,000 ODI runs joined her namesake Sarah in the middle. Together they saw England past the hundred mark off 144 balls and then Sarah (40) was caught in the 27th over by Kember, fielding at mid-on off Mason's bowling. With captain Edwards heading to the middle, England were 117-2.

Taylor and Edwards scored quickly adding 22 to the total, before Taylor (34) was caught by Devine, fielding at point, off Mason's bowling as she attempted a sweep shot. Left-hander Lydia Greenway made her way out with England needing 103 runs to secure victory from 19 overs. With Edwards she saw England past 150 and with ten overs remaining England required a run-a-ball.

In the 41st over, Greenway was caught behind by Martin off Mason's bowling for 17 and it was up to Gunn and Edwards to see England home. Which they did in style. They added the required 56 runs and saw England to their first victory in New Zealand taking the series 3-1.

England's Claire Taylor won the Player of the Series Award, decided on by the two head coaches. She said: 'I'm delighted with my form in New Zealand and happy to be part of a winning squad.

'To come to Australia and New Zealand and win five games of cricket is a brilliant achievement. This bodes well for the next 12 months with players beginning to prepare for the World Cup.'

Post match, an ecstatic Edwards, commented: 'This has just topped off an unbelievable tour for the team. I'm really proud of every single player ' it has been a real team effort throughout both series.

'To play against the two best teams in the world and to draw and then win gives us great confidence going into the World Cup next year.'

Acting head coach Mark Lane added:'I'm delighted with the result from New Zealand. To beat them 3-1 on their own turf is a fantastic achievement and I'm extremely proud of the entire squad. They have all grown in confidence to overcome a strong side and it is excellent preparation going into the series' this summer.

'It's been an enjoyable tour and I would like to thank the ECB for giving me this opportunity of working with such a talented squad of cricketers. They've done themselves and their country proud against two very talented sides.

'We tied the ODI series against Australia, currently ranked the best side in women's cricket, then we went on to win the Ashes, followed by this series win in New Zealand. To say this is a massive achievement is an understatement. It's been the most successful winter tour down under ever and I am so pleased to have been involved.'