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1 hour ago
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Key events
3rd over: New Zealand 20-0 (Kerr 14, Gaze 6) Smith is so rapid through her overs, no time for the batters to prep. Three singles keeps things ticking over then Gaze takes a large step down the pitch and sweeps her backward of square for four.
2nd over: New Zealand 12-0 (Kerr 12, Gaze 0) It looks pretty full at The Oval, spectators baking in the late afternoon sun, clad in sunglasses and wafting vigorously. A big round of applause for Lauren Bell. Her third ball is pretty short and Kerr duly finds her fighting stance and pulls her uppish and square for four. Four more comes through deep third. They run a quick single off the last – too risky? we’ll never know as Ecclestone fumbles in the field.
1st over: New Zealand 1-0 (Kerr 1, Gaze 0) Linsey Smith with the new ball. Tosses it from hand to hand, collar buttoned up to the top, white suncream smeared in a stripe across her nose and cheeks. Just a single from the over as Smith is on the money straight away.
The commentators are all very interested in the “greenish tinge” on the pitch.. Manna for Lauren Bell perhaps. Did Melie Kerr make the wrong choice at the toss? We will soon find out – Kerr and Gaze gallop onto the pitch.
The flags have been unfurled and we await the anthems. This match could mark the end of an unbelievable era for New Zealand cricket with Sophie Devine, Lea Tahuhu and Susie Bates all hanging up their boots at the end of this competition. The New Zealand women look quite emotional actually, England relaxed.
Raf is at The Oval, laptop read. “ It’s lovely here now – cooler than yesterday with sunshine and an evening breeze. Mid warm up, some of the NZ players gathered round the TV in their changing room to watch the denouement of Ireland v Windies. Lots of dancing and jumping up and down before resuming their warm up!”
Lovely stuff, as Nasser says, there is now real tension in this match.
Nasser Hussain is excited about this game for England. “It is going to be virtually a sell out, The Oval is a ground they like, and it is now a live game. It is perfect preparation for the semi final coming up, and will focus the mind.”
England XI
England are unchanged, Nat Sciver-Brunt is “not far off” says Charlie Dean.
England: Amy Jones (wk), Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Sophia Dunkley, Alice Capsey, Heather Knight, Freya Kemp, Dani Gibson, Charlie Dean (capt), Sophie Ecclestone, Linsey Smith, Lauren Bell.
New Zealand XI
New Zealand: Melie Kerr (c), Izzy Gaze (wk), Izzy Sharp, Sophie Devine, Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Suzie Bates, Jess Kerr, Nensi Patel, Lea Tahuhu, Bree Illing.
Nw Zealand win the toss and bat
“Runs on the board and scoreboard pressure,” says NZ captain Melie Kerr. “We have been supporting Ireland and now it’s in our hands, we’re in a privileged position. It’s a must-win match and …we haven’t been near our best yet, this is the day to do it.”
Both sides are unchanged.
Today’s action is at The Oval, where the temperatures are not quite as dastardly as they have been. Ah, they’re out in the middle, here comes the toss…
Preamble
Hello! It’s been a topsy-turvy few days – first Ireland’s men beating India, then Ireland’s women turning over West Indies by six wickets to celebrate the first T20 World Cup win in their history. Now New Zealand have a chance to turn the tables and secure a semi-final place ahead of the West Indies by beating England (who are already through). It should be intriguing – join us to see how the plates land.
