History repeats as White Ferns lose
One positive you could say for the White Ferns is at least they will have a crowd to try and lift them tomorrow.
Still, the gap between them and England shows little sign of narrowing, after the brilliant Tammy Beaumont ushered in a sixwicket victory in Twenty20 international game two, and a series victory for the touring side with a game to spare.
Amy Satterthwaite’s knock of 49 off 30 balls lacked meaningful support and the New Zealanders’ total of 123-9 was simply inadequate, and provided a minimal challenge for batters of Beaumont’s ilk.
After dominating the one-day international series (a 2-1 victory to England) with scores of 71, 72 not out and 88 not out, Beaumont’s fast hands and lethal ball-striking had the women in black chasing the white ball all over a deserted Sky Stadium in Wellington yesterday.
The opener cracked 63 off 53 balls as England got home with 16 balls to spare. They’re at shrinking odds for a series sweep tomorrow when, mercifully, the change in Covid-19 alert levels means Wellington fans can attend.
Defending a total at least 30 runs short of a challenging one, the Ferns needed something remarkable to happen early in the chase.
Rosemary Mair created some hope with a sharp opening spell with some dramatic inswing, and skittled the dangerous Danni Wyatt (9) with a ripper. When the world’s second-ranked women’s T20 allrounder Nat Sciver got too ambitious with a lap shot to Mair and lobbed a catch second ball, England were in a rare spot of bother. But not for long as captain Heather Knight steadied the ship and watched as Beaumont went about finishing the job set up by the bowlers.
What to do with the White Ferns’ batting? Once again it was a case of, get Sophie Devine and they’re in strife, and later on a collapse of 7-36 meant it was curtains.
Devine, ranked No 1 on the world allrounder list, continued her mini trot as she was dismissed for
8, trapped in front by Sophie Ecclestone’s left-arm spin.
Satterthwaite got to work and played some lovely shots, lofting down the ground and sending the ball racing across the turf with her cut shot.
After Hayley Jensen holed out to deep point, Amelia Kerr looked untroubled and the senior pair had a chance to reapply pressure on England.
Legspinner Sarah Glenn then ripped it away, fooling Kerr (25) on the charge and also having Katey Martin stumped second ball after she had an lbw decision reversed.
Then, seamer Freya Davies warmed to her task in a spell of
4-23 as the procession continued. FOR COVERAGE OF LAST NIGHT’S MEN’S T20 BETWEEN NZ AND AUSTRALIA, GO TO