England have thrashed the White Ferns by 47 runs at the Basin Reserve today to win the fourth T20 international and claim the series.
England were helped to a mammoth total of 177-3 by an inspired innings from Maia Bouchier, who hit 91, a devastating knock which included 12 fours and two sixes, as well as a poor fielding effort from New Zealand, who dropped several catches and missed a stumping.
The tourists' total was the highest in women’s T20 internationals in New Zealand. The White Ferns’ highest successful run chase is 143-3 against the West Indies in Hamilton in 2018.
And they had to attempt it without skipper Sophie Devine, who suffered a thigh strain and left the field halfway through the first innings.
She did not bat – a huge loss for her team given her innings of 60 helped set up the White Ferns’ dramatic three-run victory over England at Nelson which kept the series alive.
"I thought we were really poor in the field and when you get opportunities you need to take them and we didn't do that today," Devine said afterwards. "If we had taken those chances it could have been a different story, we could have been chasing 150 or 160.
"Full credit to Maia, she was oustanding."
New Zealand finished their reply on 130-7, left hander Brooke Halliday top scoring with 25.
Opener Suzie Bates was out in the first over for four after spooning a catch to short midwicket, with the normally prolific Amelia Kerr out for 21 off 17 balls.
New Zealand were always behind the run rate and needed 106 off the final 10 overs and 71 off the last four.
The one innings of true quality was Bouchier’s, her highest score in T20 internationals coming off only 56 balls. It was also built on the largesse offered by New Zealand’s poor fielding effort.
She should have been stumped by keeper Izzy Gaze off Amelia Kerr’s bowling when on 31, only for Gaze to fumble the chance. Bouchier hit Kerr’s next ball for four for good measure.
Bouchier was also dropped by Jess Kerr in a straightforward caught and bowled chance when on 44.
She brought up her half century soon after via a boundary and a miss-field by Maddy Green. Bouchier was also dropped in a difficult chance by Bernadine Bezuidenhout when in the 80s.
She was finally out in the 18th over when she lofted a drive to Bates at mid off.
That brought Heather Knight to the crease, the England skipper putting on a further 35 with Nat Schiver-Brunt. England scored an extraordinary 65 in their last five overs. Fran Jones' final over went for 18.
Rosemary Mair’s 1-28 off four overs was New Zealand’s best bowling effort, with Charlie Dean a standout for England when taking 4-26 off her four overs.
As New Zealand look forward to the final T20 match in the series at the Basin on Friday, plus three ODIs against England, some of their batters may consider their use of the reverse sweep shot. On the whole it was not well executed and it led to several dismissals.
Follow the White Ferns' summer of cricket on TVNZ+
SHARE ME