Sophie Ecclestone suffered an damage scare forward of the Ladies’s Cricket World Cup semi-finals as England ended their league marketing campaign with an eight-wicket win over New Zealand following an erratic bowling show and medical batting efficiency.
Left-arm spinner Ecclestone jarred her bowling shoulder attempting to forestall a boundary within the opening over of Sunday’s fixture in Vizag and shortly left the sphere for evaluation.
The 26-year-old returned to the park and even got here on to bowl the twenty third over, solely to move off once more as quickly as she had Brooke Halliday (4) caught at deep midwicket from her fourth authorized supply in New Zealand’s whole of 168 all out in 38.2 overs.
Ecclestone was not seen once more within the innings, leaving England sweating on her health forward of Wednesday’s semi-final towards South Africa in Guwahati, reside on Sky Sports activities Cricket (9.30am UK).
Talking on the post-match presentation, captain Nat Sciver-Brunt had no additional replace on Ecclestone’s situation however stated her absence was “precautionary”.
Amy Jones (86no off 92 balls) and Tammy Beaumont (40) shared their highest opening stand of the event – 75 from 89 balls – earlier than Jones and Heather Knight (33 off 40) added 83 in partnership as England eased to their goal with 125 deliveries to spare, bouncing again from defeat to Australia final outing.
The win additionally noticed England snatch second spot from South Africa, which means Sciver-Brunt’s facet will advance to the ultimate towards both Australia or India if their semi-final is washed out.
Danni Wyatt-Hodge (2no) changed the out-of-nick Emma Lamb for England and got here out to bat at No 4 with 11 runs required after Kiwi captain Sophie Devine (1-20) pinned Knight lbw to take a 111th ODI wicket in her 159th and ultimate match earlier than retiring from the format.
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Amy Jones struck New Zealand seamer Rosemary Mair for 3 fours in a row in the course of the twenty sixth over of the run chase
Jones, who now has two half-centuries throughout her final three innings, sealed victory with back-to-back fours off Devine, whose New Zealand group gained simply one in all their seven video games on the World Cup – towards Bangladesh – round 4 losses and two rain-offs.
England beat New Zealand after early struggles with the ball
New Zealand squandered a very good begin after Devine had elected to bat, with the White Ferns reaching 89-1 within the nineteenth over earlier than Melie Kerr (35) and Georgia Plimmer (43) fell to successive deliveries.
New Zealand had earlier taken 17 runs throughout 4 balls from Linsey Smith (3-30) because the England spinner conceded 4 consecutive boundaries whereas bowling to Kerr, together with one off a dreadful full-toss no-ball that reached the batter above waist peak.
England’s bowling was free early on – even the primary wicket of Suzie Bates (10), caught at mid-off by substitute fielder Lamb, got here off a Smith full toss – however they did tighten up because the innings progressed.
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New Zealand captain Sophie Devine was dismissed for 23, took the wicket of Heather Knight and acquired a guard of honour as she introduced her ODI profession to an in depth
New Zealand pale as soon as Kerr chipped Alice Capsey down the bottom – Charlie Dean with the catch in her one centesimal England look – and Plimmer was then pinned lbw by Dean one ball later.
There have been a raft of sentimental dismissals, together with Maddy Inexperienced pouched off a Capsey full toss, though it took an ideal piece of cricket to take away Devine for 23; England wicketkeeper Jones with a sensible catch after Devine snicked a Sciver-Brunt off-cutter.
England will desire a sharper all-round show – and a fully-fit Ecclestone – after they face a South Africa facet they bundled out for 69 in Guwahati en path to a 10-wicket win of their first recreation of the event on October 3.
Jones: England ‘massively excited’ for semi-finals
England’s Jones hit 11 fours and one six in her knock of 86 not out
Participant of the Match, England opener Amy Jones (86no off 92 balls):
“I found it challenging out there. It was a little bit slow, a little bit frustrating.
“I used to be joyful to get via that and Tammy [Beaumont] took the strain off me initially after I was discovering it a bit tougher.
“It is hugely exciting to be in the semi-final and to finish second. We are all very happy with that.
“Twice within the event now we now have bounced again rapidly from a poor efficiency which has been actually constructive.”
England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt:
“We wanted to put in a really good performance today so I am really happy with what we did and to take confidence into the semi-final.
“[After the defeat to Australia], we wished to be proactive within the center order with the bat, whereas we wished to reaffirm plans with the ball and ensure execution was excessive.
“As a side, the one thing we can do to show much we care for each other is the fielding so keeping that energy up in hot conditions was really important.”
England will play South Africa within the first World Cup semi-final in Guwahati on Wednesday
Devine: Immediately was by no means concerning the outcome
New Zealand captain Sophie Devine:
“That was disappointing. Not to make it about myself but I really wanted to go out on a high and today’s performance wasn’t that.
“Credit score to England – they caught at it after which did the job with the bat. It isn’t what we wished however there are larger issues in life.
“It was never about the result today. For me, it was just about enjoying it and going back to the roots if why I played the game 19 years ago – to play alongside my mates.
“I’m actually excited concerning the expertise, the youthful power and playfulness within the group. They’ve such a excessive ceiling so it is nearly them understanding their finest is nice sufficient.
“We are good enough to be here and when we play our best cricket we can beat any team in the world. We have to keep believing that.”
Devine, 36, made her ODI debut for New Zealand in 2006
England gamers hail ‘correct cricketer’ Devine
England’s Amy Jones on Sophie Devine:
“It is great for Soph [Devine] to get the recognition. She is a legend of the game and it is clear to see how much she means to New Zealand and everyone else in the women’s game.
“On the pitch but in addition off it as an ideal individual. I’m actually joyful she has had such a profitable profession.”
England’s Heather Knight on Sophie Devine:
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England’s Knight displays on the win over New Zealand and pays tribute to Devine following her ODI retirement
“Sophie has been a stalwart of New Zealand cricket. I have played with her and against her and what stands out for me is her character.
“She continues to be the identical kind of cheeky lady she was when she obtained within the group and a correct cricketer – somebody who pushed the sport ahead in how you’re taking bowlers on.
“She can hit the ball better than anyone in the women’s game and she was doing that before anyone else was. You also look at her longevity – and I think we might see her in the 2026 T20 World Cup…”
England’s World Cup outcomes and fixtures
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