Nat Sciver-Brunt struck a sparkling 76 not out as England beat New Zealand by five wickets in the third and final ODI in Bristol to complete a 3-0 whitewash in the series.
England won the toss and elected to bowl in the rain-reduced encounter at the Seat Unique Stadium, with pace bowler Lauren Bell taking a career-best 5-37 as the tourists were restricted to 211-8 in their 42 overs.
New Zealand’s batting improved greatly from their last two encounters, though, with Amelia Kerr (57) bringing up her 10th half-century in ODI cricket after sharing a 68-run partnership with her captain Sophie Devine (43).
England stuttered in pursuit of their target of 212, losing three early wickets in the powerplay, with Tammy Beaumont (0) falling lbw to Hannah Rowe (2-38) from the fifth ball of the innings before captain Heather Knight (nine) was caught and bowled by Rowe and Maia Bouchier (19), who hit a brilliant century in the second ODI, departed after being caught behind off the bowling of Molly Penfold, leaving the hosts 33-3 in the eighth over.
However, Sciver-Brunt (76no) and Amy Jones (50) rebuilt the innings with a steady 90-run partnership, with the England No 4 bringing up her 21st ODI fifty from 49 deliveries. Jones followed her to the landmark shortly after with her half-century coming off the same number of balls, before Brooke Halliday (1-29) had her caught behind.
Sciver-Brunt then marshalled England to victory, hitting a single past square leg off Devine to seal the deal with 20 balls to spare as the hosts posted 212-5.
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Watch the best of Nat Sciver-Brunt’s innings
Bell shines bright with ball
New Zealand’s opener Georgia Plimmer (seven) was run out for the second time in the ODI series after a direct hit by Charlie Dean at backward point off the bowling of Bell in the powerplay.
Kate Cross (2-46) drew out a thick edge from Suzie Bates (24) who was caught brilliantly behind the stumps by a diving Jones.
Devine (43) and Amelia Kerr (57) helped rebuild steadily with a 68-run third-wicket partnership to counteract England’s early breakthroughs, taking their side to 109-2.
Bell bowled Devine with a fuller delivery that was angling in which the New Zealand skipper under-edged onto her stumps for a timely wicket.
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Take a look back on Lauren Bell’s five-for as the England seamer claimed her career-best ODI figures in the third match of the series against New Zealand
Maddy Green (five) drove Cross fiercely through the covers for four but was trapped lbw with a fuller length delivery in the same over and was unable to review the on-field decision as DRS was down.
Halliday (31) and Kerr provided New Zealand with much-needed middle-order resistance with a 65-run stand, with the latter batter bringing up her 10th half-century in ODI cricket.
Bell struck twice in three balls in the 38th over, trapping Kerr lbw with a full and straight delivery before Halliday, who was dropped by Bouchier on 25 at cover, edged behind to Jones, leaving the White Ferns 182-6.
Izzy Gaze (four) miscued a back-of-a-hand slow delivery from Bell to covers where she was caught by Sciver-Brunt.
Lauren Down (14) cleared the ropes at long-off to bring up New Zealand’s 200 in style, off Sciver-Brunt’s bowling – she looked in good form after bowling the most overs since her knee injury.
Bell mixed up her line and length in the final over with another back-of-the-hand delivery that saw the end of Down as she wrapped up the innings with a five-for and career-best figures.
Sciver-Brunt and Jones impress with bat
Beaumont (0) was dropped on the first ball of their chase after she edged Rowe behind to Gaze, who was unable to take a clean catch. The New Zealand pace bowler struck four balls later, though, trapping the England opener lbw. The decision was given out on the field and Beaumont walked without reviewing, but the replay showed the ball was missing leg stump comfortably.
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Tammy Beaumont walks without reviewing what would have saved her from going for a duck
Rowe struck again in the seventh over, taking the big scalp of Knight (nine), who got a leading edge off a shorter delivery that clubbed straight back to the bowler.
Bouchier (19) shaped up to play the pull shot but bailed out and the indecision cost England a wicket after she toe-ended through to the ‘keeper, leaving the hosts 33-3.
Sophia Dunkley (15) was unable to have a huge impact in England’s chase after she miscued a cut shot and feathered behind to Gaze, who had a busy day behind the stumps.
Jones (50) smashed seven boundaries during her outing, although she was dropped by Kerr on 40 in the 28th over, and brought up her 14th ODI half-century with a leading edge that dropped wide of point.
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Amy Jones departs shortly after bringing up her half-century
Jones departed after reaching her milestone and was dismissed on review after she edged behind to Gaze.
Alice Capsey (35no) and Sciver-Brunt then shared an unbeaten 50-run partnership to ease England over the victory line comfortably.
Bell: I’ve made mental changes to my game
Player of the match, England seamer Lauren Bell after her career-best five-wicket haul:
“I was really happy with today. They built partnerships really well, but I think I was pretty clear with what was good on this wicket.
“Since Durham, I’ve made a few changes to the mental side of it. The skill is there, it’s just applying that in a game and I think did that today.”
Knight: We’ve got to keep it going
England captain Heather Knight:
“I think we were put under pressure today. We had to find a way to claw it back and I think we did that brilliantly, so I’m super happy.
“It’s a really great place to be. There are so many players performing well, which is a really good sign for us.
“I think we’re getting smarter. We’ve evolved a little bit as a team in terms of having that smartness and trying to dominate when we can.
“That’s a really pleasing thing and we’ve got a huge T20 series leading into the World Cup later this year. We’re going great at the moment, we’ve just got to keep it going and the challenge is to keep doing that for the rest of the summer.”
Devine: We showed resilience in this game
New Zealand captain Sophie Devine:
“I thought we showed a bit of resilience. We’ve obviously been absolutely trounced the last two games, and to come back and show a bit of ticker is really pleasing.
“A couple of results doesn’t define us as a team.
“We had to be at our best and we weren’t quite there today. There are a lot of players out there who are stepping up and learning on the job.”
What’s next?
England face New Zealand in a five-match T20I series starting on July 6 at The Ageas Bowl in Southampton, live on Sky Sports.
England vs New Zealand T20I series dates
July 6: 1st Women’s IT20 – The Ageas Bowl, Southampton
July 9: 2nd Women’s IT20 – The 1st Central County Ground, Hove
July 11: 3rd Women’s IT20 – The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence
July 13: 4th Women’s IT20 – The Kia Oval, London
July 17: 5th Women’s IT20 – Lord’s, London
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