CWG 2022: New Zealand brush aside England to bag bronze medal

New Zealand Women have scripted history as they clinched the bronze medal in the cricket competition being played in the 2022 Commonwealth Games (CWG), after defeating the home team England. The White Ferns were excellent in all three departments of the game as they brushed aside a meek-looking England team.

Talking about the match, Team England won the toss and decided to have a bat first. However, they got off to a shaky start as their opening batter Danielle Wyatt was dismissed in the second over of the match. Batter Alice Capsey also could not contribute much with the bat, leaving England 10/2 in 2.3 overs.

Skipper Natalie Sciver tried to counter-attack with the bat, but the home team kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Apart from Sciver (27 runs), Amy Jones (26 runs), and Sophie Ecclestone (18 runs), none of the English batters managed to cross the double-digit mark as England finished on just 110/9 in their allotted 20 overs.

For New Zealand, Fran Jonas (two wickets), Hayley Jansen (three wickets), Hannah Rowe (one wicket), Amelia Kerr (one wicket), and skipper Sophie Devine (two wickets) were the successful bowlers. A total of five extras were bowled by the New Zealand bowlers in their bowling effort.

New Zealand chased down the total easily

Chasing 111 to win, New Zealand batters came out swinging. Skipper Devine (51* runs) and Suzie Bates (20 runs) gave a perfect start to the chase. The White Ferns lost their first wicket after crossing the 50-run mark. England bowlers managed to scalp one more wicket of batter Georgia Plimmer who scored just four runs off six deliveries but this was the last success England tasted in the match.

Skipper Devine and Kerr (21)* chased down the total easily within 11.5 overs and ensure that they will go home with the bronze medal. For England, skipper Sciver (one wicket) and Freya Kemp (one wicket) were the successful bowlers as they bowed out of the competition without any medal.