In a rain-affected encounter at Bristol on Wednesday, England completed a convincing 3-0 series whitewash over New Zealand in the ODI format, clinching the final match by five wickets. The architect of their victory was young pace bowler Lauren Bell, who produced a career-best performance of 5-37 to dismantle the White Ferns’ batting order.
The heavens opened up before the start of play, forcing a reduction in the match to 42 overs per side. New Zealand, electing to bat first, got off to a decent start with captain Sophie Devine (43) and Amelia Kerr (57) building a steady partnership. However, the introduction of Bell in the middle overs proved decisive.
The 23-year-old seamer, showcasing her growing maturity beyond her early reliance on in-swing bowling, ripped through the New Zealand middle order, with the crucial wicket of Devine breaking a vital third-wicket stand of 68. New Zealand never fully recovered, slumping to 211-8 despite Kerr’s valiant half-century.
England’s chase began in shaky fashion, as they were reduced to a precarious 33-3. Openers Tammy Beaumont (0) and Heather Knight (9) fell cheaply to New Zealand’s seamers, led by the impressive Hannah Rowe. But a superb partnership between experienced campaigners Nat Sciver-Brunt (76*) and Amy Jones (50) rescued the innings.
The duo exhibited composure and batted sensibly, rotating the strike and waiting for scoring opportunities. Sciver-Brunt, the mainstay of the chase, survived a dropped catch at 63 and went on to anchor the innings with an unbeaten 76. Valuable contributions from Alice Capsey (35*) lower down the order ensured England chased down the target with 20 balls to spare.
The victory highlighted the depth and resilience of the English batting line-up. While the top order faltered for the first time in the series, the experience of Sciver-Brunt and Jones proved invaluable in guiding them home.
The absence of the world’s best spinner, Sophie Ecclestone, who was rested for this match, did not hinder England’s bowling attack. Bell stepped up admirably, showcasing her development as a bowler with a variety of deliveries.
New Zealand’s bowlers started brightly, exposing England’s top order’s vulnerability. However, their attack lacked penetration in the middle overs, failing to make further inroads after the early dismissals. The lack of a substantial total to defend ultimately proved costly for the White Ferns.
England head into the five-match T20 series starting this weekend in Southampton on a high. Bell’s emergence as a bowling force and the return of Ecclestone bolsters their squad significantly. With a team brimming with confidence and in-form players, England will be clear favorites to continue their dominance in the shorter format.
