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England eased to a T20I series win over New Zealand with a seven-wicket win in the decider at Hove on Monday after bowling out their opponents for 80 runs in a ruthless bowling display.
New Zealand collapsed in 19.1 overs after electing to bat – 29-1 from 20 balls for five wickets in the sixth over – as stand-in England captain Charlie Dean (3-13) and Dani Gibson (3-14) shared six wickets.
Seam-bowling all-rounder Gibson accounted for Kiwi captain Mellie Kerr (5) and dangerous Sophie Devine (0) in the same over on her way to career-best T20 international figures.
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Danny Gibson dismissed Sophie Devine, Mellie Kerr and Maddie Green during a fine performance at Hove
All five of England’s bowlers played their part, including left-arm spinner Linsey Smith (2-15) and Sophie Ecclestone (1-11) and pacer EC Wang (1-20).
Ecclestone, who did not play during Saturday’s 14-run defeat at Canterbury and registered agonizing figures of 0-34 in the first T20 in Derby which his side won by seven wickets, bowled Izzy Sharpe with a beauty as he returns to form ahead of next month’s World T20 at home.
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Watch how Sophie Ecclestone cleans New Zealand’s IG Sharp with a delicious arm ball
England lost Alice Captsey (3) lbw, Sophia Dunkley (22) caught at mid-on and Heather Knight (18) made a fairly quiet chase with a reverse sweep which they completed in 13.5 overs, Maia Bouchier (19 off 29) – not out to make it 2-0 in World T20s. Run-rate before Freya Kemp (7 off 5) hit the winning single.
The hosts will now face India in a three-match T20I series starting in Chelmsford on Thursday before turning their full attention to the World Cup, which is being streamed live. Sky Sports From 12 June to 5 July.
England will hope regular captain Nate Syver-Brant (calf injury) is fit and firing for the big event, with the all-rounder sitting out the New Zealand match and also missing the India matches.
Nate Syver-Brant faces a battle to be fit for the T20 World Cup
England’s bowlers were on fire as New Zealand were bowled out at Hove
New Zealand led 11-4 from four overs when they leveled the series in Kent at the weekend – Devine (87) and Maddie Green (56) put on a 98-ball 159 for the fifth wicket – but there would be no dramatic comeback in Sussex.
Devine was fourth out at Hove, tamly chipping Gibson at mid-off in the sixth over, after Mellie Kerr had pulled the same bowler to mid-on for four, in a spectacular slump to 33-6.
Off-spinner Dean cleaned up a reverse-sweeping easy Gage (17 off 13) to start the wicket-tumble, when he trapped Brook Halliday (2) lbw on review, before Ecclestone castled Sharpe with an arm ball after the batter cramped for room.
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New Zealand openers Suzy Bates and Izzy Gage both perished in reverse sweeps in Hove T20I
Green (14) and top-scorer Jess Kerr (20) got into double figures, but then their innings ended with a brilliant running catch from Bouchier at deep midwicket and a cracking back-of-the-hand slower from Wang respectively.
Bouchier’s superb grab off Gibson’s bowling was part of a strong fielding display.
Smith got the first scalp of the day – Suzy Bates (3) caught in a reverse sweep at backward point in the third over after being elevated to open on her return to the side – and the eighth too, when shortstop Nancy Patel (2) was trapped lbw.
Dean polished off the innings by removing Bree Ealing (3) and New Zealand’s double-figure total was never going to be enough, leaving England in the chase.
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Watch the moment England beat New Zealand by seven wickets in the series-deciding third T20I
Dean salutes ‘ruthless’ England
England captain Charlie Dean (3-13 in 3.1 overs):
“It was a great win from the girls. It made my job easier when we picked up wickets, early wickets. I guess we learned from the Canterbury game that when we’re on top, we can be really ruthless.
“It took a bit of a toll on us today (except Lauren Bell, who was rested), but the girls stood up. We had a different formula on that powerplay and we were great. It’s a credit to the squad and the girls who didn’t get a chance. We’re more prepared when we get a chance.”
‘Now is better than the World Cup’
New Zealand captain Mellie Kerr:
“It’s a disappointing end to this series. I thought we played some really good cricket throughout the series. Today was really disappointing but I think it’s better to do it now than the World Cup.
“We have to work on losing wickets early and losing wickets as a team. You want to set the tone and get off to a good start. We bat deep, which is exciting, but we have to give ourselves a chance and try to power play better.”
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Sky Sports’ Nasser Hussain thinks ‘spin will dominate’ the World T20 and predicts which spinners will play for England.
The secret to Smith’s success?
Man of the Series, Lynsey Smith:
“Just backing up my strength. Something that has worked for me throughout the series is being really clinical in that powerplay. Try not to drop the stumps too much and apply a lot of pressure.
“We’ve had a really impressive series on the field. It’s something we’ve talked about a lot. It’s really important, especially in T20s, to control our input and our energy and really trust each other. Hopefully that continues.”
Watch Women’s T20 World Cup live on Sky Sports from June 12 to July 5. Hosts England open the tournament with a game against Sri Lanka at Edgbaston (6.30pm start) on the opening night of the tournament.
