England Seals Series Win with Victory in Hamilton Against New Zealand

England proved too strong for New Zealand in the second ODI with a 56-run win at Hamilton’s Seddon Park.

Opener Tammy Beaumont steered the English innings alongside a healthy lower-order contribution from wicket-keeper Amy Jones. 

Playing in her 111th ODI, the English opener brought up 6000 international runs across the three formats and her 19 ODI 50 in her time in the middle.

Heather Knight played a crucial stand to assist Beaumont with a 70-run second wicket stand. The stand was broken by Jess Kerr with Knight making 37 and exposing the England middle order, who struggled to get going.

They were cruising along at 107/2 at Knight’s wicket but soon fell to 166/7 with Beaumont’s dismissal to Hannah Rowe for 81 being crucial.

Nat Sciver-Brunt (2), Alice Capsey (6), Dani Wyatt (2), and Charlie Dean (1) all never got going either. 

Jones (48) was able to find support from the rest of the lower order with Sophie Ecclestone making 14 and Kate Cross 20*. 

England were all bowled for 252 runs in 49 overs.

Having lost opener Bernadine Bezuidenhout to a hamstring injury during England’s batting innings meant that Georgia Plimmer was promoted to the top of the order.

She struggled to get a start, however, only making seven runs in the opening 33-run stand alongside Suzie Bates. 

Wickets then fell at regular intervals from here for the Kiwis with Suzie Bates (28), Amelia Kerr (14), and Maddy Green (9) not able to contribute as much as usually is expected of them.

Fortunately for the White Ferns, Brooke Halliday was able to score a 4th ODI half-century, her third against England and Izzy Gaze managed her highest ODI score of 47.

The pair were looking like they could see New Zealand through to a late push for victory, but their dismissals led those hopes hanging by a thread with the home team finding themselves 176/6 and just the lower order left in the batting innings.

Rowe did get a start of 16 but was run out with the run rate climbing. Jess Kerr (1), Lea Tahuhu (5*), and Fran Jonas (0) all departed with Bezuidenhout not batting.

England managed a 56-run win, with Aotearoa bowled for 196 in 45 overs.