England move up to third position after 2-1 series win over New Zealand

• Cricket365
• July 14, 2018

New Zealand captain Suzie Bates was relieved after her team pulled off a win in the last match of their ICC Women’s Championship series, which saw England move up to third place on the points table  with the 2-1 verdict.

England, who started the series in fifth position, have reached 10 points after nine matches while New Zealand still lead the table with 12 points from as many matches. Australia are in second place with 10 points but have only played two series (six matches) so far and will be eyeing the top spot when they take on Pakistan a few months from now.

In the batters list, England’s Tammy Beaumont has moved up to the sixth position

England, who had taken a 2-0 lead in the series before New Zealand came back hard in the final match, next play an away series in India.

Bates conceded the home side had dominated them and are hard to beat.

New Zealand captain Suzie Bates: “It was really nice to get that win, am just so pleased at the way the team bounced back after two disappointing matches. Sophie Devin’s hundred is what we had been asking of the top of the order for the whole series. For her to do that at the end of a long tour, when we had not been doing well, and then to have Haeley (Jensen) and (Leigh) Kasparek perform like that with the ball shows that we have some talent coming through. We have to be more consistent with those performances and need players to step up.

“We did not play our best cricket but that’s credit to how they went about their business. They are very consistent. We have learnt a lot in the series. The first two games they were just too good. We found it difficult to take wickets, but in the last two games what was pleasing was that we bowled them out.

“It’s nice because it’s a home World Cup and we have qualified, but every game that we play there are two points up for grabs and the points table is a true reflection of where we stand, so we are going to keep trying to take points.”

The ongoing second edition of the ICC Women’s Championship is the pathway to qualification for the ICC Women’s World Cup 2021 in New Zealand. Hosts New Zealand and the three other top sides from this tournament will qualify for the World Cup while the remaining four sides will get another chance through the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier.

There has been no change in points in the ICC Women’s ODI Team Rankings after the 2-1 series result but some fine performances have resulted in notable movements in the ICC Women’s ODI Player Rankings.

England opener Tammy Beaumont has moved up four places to sixth position after aggregating 160 runs in the series while New Zealand batter Sophie Devin’s series-topping 164 runs, including a match-winning 117 not out in the final match, has lifted her 10 places to 10th position.

England’s Amy Jones (up 20 places to 32nd) and Katherine Brunt (up four places to 37th), and New Zealand’s Maddie Green (up eight places to 61) are the others to advance in the list of batters.

Brunt has also moved up in the list of bowlers, gaining five slots to reach seventh position while New Zealand off-spinner Leigh Kasparek’s eight wickets in the series have seen her move up nine places to take 16th position. England left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone (up 14 places to 24th) and New Zealand leg-spinner Amelia Kerr (up three places to 20th) are other gainers in the latest rankings.

Scores in brief:

1st IWC ODI: England won by 142 runs

England 290-5 in 50 overs (Amy Jones 63, Heather Knight 63, Tammy Beaumont 40, Natalie Sciver 37, Katherine Brunt 30; Amelia Kerr 2-37, Lea Tahuhu 2-57)

New Zealand 148 all out in 35.3 overs (Sophie Devine 33; Natalie Sciver 3-18, Laura Marsh 3-24, Georgia Elwiss 2-16)

2nd IWC ODI: England won by 123 runs

England 241 all out in 48 overs (Sophie Devine 2-26, Jess Watkin 2-30, Leigh Kasperek 2-49)

New Zealand 118 in 38 overs (Sophie Ecclestone 3-14, Katie George 3-36).

3rd IWC ODI: New Zealand won by four wickets

England 219 all out in 47.4 overs (Amy Jones 78, Tammy Beaumont 53; Leigh Kasperek 5-39, Hayley Jensen 2-26, Jess Watkin 2-38)

New Zealand 224-6 in 44.4 overs (Sophie Devine 117 not out, Sophie Ecclestone 2-39, Katherine Brunt 2-40).

ICC Women’s Team Rankings (as of 14 July 2018, after the England-New Zealand IWC series)

(Developed by David Kendix)

ICC Women’s Player Rankings (as of 14 July 2018, after the England-New Zealand IWC series)

BATTING (top 20)

BOWLING (top 20) 

ALL-ROUNDERS (top five)