Lauren Bell’s fifer propels England to series sweep over New Zealand in WODIs

Jul 4, 2024

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Lauren Bell’s fifer propels England to series sweep over New Zealand in WODIs

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England Women emphatically concluded the three-match ODI series against New Zealand Women with a 5-wicket victory in the third and final game at the County Ground in Bristol on Wednesday, July 3. Opting to field first, they displayed disciplined bowling to restrict the White Ferns to a modest total.

Lauren Bell’s career-best figures stifles New Zealand

The New Zealand batting lineup failed to capitalize on a good batting surface. Openers Suzie Bates and Georgia Plimmer fell cheaply, while Amelia Kerr (57 runs) and Sophie Devine (43 runs) provided some resistance with gritty half-centuries. But they lacked substantial support from the rest of the batting order.

England’s bowling attack, led by the phenomenal Lauren Bell (5-37 in 9 overs), exploited the fragile batting display. Bell’s accuracy and swing bowling proved too much to handle for the New Zealand batters, as she picked up wickets at crucial junctures. Kate Cross (2-46 in 9 overs) ably supported Bell, keeping the run-rate in check with her tight bowling spells.

Nat Sciver anchors England’s chase; Amy Jones and Alice Capsey provide late flourish

Chasing a modest target of 212, England lost opener Tammy Beaumont early, raising concerns about a potential batting collapse. However, the experienced Natalie Sciver steadied the ship with a composed and well-paced innings of 76 runs. She struck eight boundaries, displaying her ability to rotate strike and score boundaries when needed. Amy Jones (50 runs) provided valuable support at the other end, playing a gritty knock that included seven fours. The youngster Alice Capsey (35 not out) chipped in with a crucial cameo towards the end, ensuring England crossed the finish line with 3.2 overs remaining.

Also READ: Latest ICC Women’s Rankings

England defeated New Zealand by 5 wickets in the 3rd ODI 🏏

Scorecard: https://t.co/HQIpNyjMMQ #women #cricket #ENGvNZ #LaurenBell #CricketTwitter #WomenCricket pic.twitter.com/veNyXTYNFk

— WomenCricket.com (@WomenCricketHQ) July 4, 2024

Player of the Match

Lauren Bell’s exceptional bowling display, which dismantled the New Zealand batting line-up, deservedly earned her the Player of the Match award. Her ability to swing the new ball and exploit seam movement proved decisive in restricting the visitors’ total. This victory marks a dominant performance by England throughout the three-match ODI series, showcasing their superior form and ability to handle pressure situations. The clean sweep further strengthens their position as a leading force in women’s cricket.

Winners are grinners 😁

This team though 🫶#EnglandCricket pic.twitter.com/JoEu07uymZ

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 3, 2024