EN W VS NZ W ODI

Right then! That is it from the coverage of this game! Things are heating up in Women's World Cup, 2022 and we have another exciting game coming up on Monday, 21st March. West Indies Women will lock horns with Pakistan Women at Seddon Park in Hamilton. The clash begins at 6.30 am IST (1 am GMT) but you can tune in early for the build-up. Till then, cheers and goodbye!

Heather Knight, the skipper of England Women, says that they are just sticking to the tradition of the tournament, and they are relieved to get over the line here. Mentions that the games they have lost have been close and she feels good to get over the line, but they have to be better, and the top-order needs to step up, but the main thing was to win today. On Charlotte Dean, she says that Dean is a wicket-taker and she has come in and done well. Adds that there is a bit of relief now, but they will reflect on what they could have done better. She concludes by saying that they have not been playing their best cricket yet, but they have two more important games coming up.

Sophie Devine, the skipper of New Zealand Women, says that she always wanted to be out there, but she is very proud of her team, and they were probably 20 runs short, and they are gutted but this is cricket in the end. Mentions that they lost three games by close margins, but it is time to reflect and look back on what they could have done differently, but a lot of positives to take from these games. She adds that they also have one last game and they want to give their best. States that they want to enjoy every moment, rather than the highs and lows in the tournament. Informs that her back will hopefully be fine in a few days.

Natalie Sciver is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH. She says she did not realize how much it was raining while she batted, but the rain did change things a bit. Mentions that it's about partnerships and one of them had to stay there and take them home. Unfortunately, none of them did that. States that usually, she is nervous in the middle, but she had to make sure that she did the bulk of the scoring and be out there. Informs that it was tough to bowl in these conditions but the bowlers did well today.

... THE PRESENTATION ...

New Zealand Women gave it their all with the ball and in the field but ended up on the wrong side of the result. They were hit with injuries but the White Ferns kept fighting till the very end and gave a scare to the defending champions. The injury to Lea Tahuhu weakened their attack a bit but the other bowlers kept things tight and it was Jess Kerr who picked up a couple of important wickets, which included the prized scalp of a set batter in Natalie Sciver. However, it was Frances Mackay who turned the game on its head at the fag end as she took wickets in a cluster and brought New Zealand back in the contest. Had they scored 15-20 more runs, things might have been different at the end of the day. Having said that, England Women deserved to win this game in spite of that collapse, as they dominated the game for a majority part.

England Women didn't have a huge total to chase but they did get off to a decent start. Although they lost Wyatt early on in the innings, it was the pair of Tammy Beaumont and Heather Knight who kept them in the hunt. Beaumont perished but Knight carried on in her merry way and she stitched another crucial partnership along with Natalie Sciver. However, England Women lost a couple of wickets in quick succession in the middle overs and they were in a spot of bother. Then came the partnership between Sophia Dunkley and Natalie Sciver which almost guaranteed them a win. However, there was a huge collapse once Dunkley got out where England lost 5 wickets for just 20 runs. Heather Knight and her troops would be relieved in the end as it was a must-win encounter for them.

Woooaaahhh!! What a thriller we have just witnessed at Eden Park! England Women were cruising along nicely at one point but a collapse at the fag end saw New Zealand Women staging a grand comeback into this contest. England needed just 28 runs from 57 balls, with 6 wickets in hand but they almost made a mess of the chase. The experience of Anya Shrubsole came in handy for the defending champions and they are alive in this competition. New Zealand Women, on the other hand, have a very slim chance of making it to the semi-finals, with only one game to go.

That's it! Anya Shrubsole finishes things off! A full toss, on middle. Anya Shrubsole flicks it uppishly just away from the fielder at mid-wicket. A single taken! England Women win by 1 wicket!

FOUR! SCORES ARE LEVEL! England Women can breathe a sigh of relief! A fuller ball, outside off. Anya Shrubsole drives it past cover for a boundary.

DLS par score at this stage is 194. So England Women are 5 runs ahead. Also, Brooke Halliday comes to bowl now.

Flatter ball, around off. Charlotte Dean punches it towards cover off the back foot. 5 needed now off 18 balls, with one wicket in hand.

Tad fuller, around off. Charlotte Dean defends it towards cover.

Wide! Down the leg side, fuller ball. Charlotte Dean leaves it alone. Wide called!

Quick single! Loopy ball, yorker-length delivery, on off. Anya Shrubsole digs it out towards short third man for a single.

Slower through the air, full, on middle. Anya Shrubsole looks to flick this, but gets a leading edge towards cover.

Very full, on middle. Anya Shrubsole defends it out.