England Take Series With Dominant Display in Wellington

England has taken a 3-1 lead over the White Ferns with one game to spare through a special knock by opener Maia Bouchier. 

Bouchier who had batted at number three for the past three games of the series was promoted to open alongside Dani Wyatt who was returning from the WPL.

Wyatt couldn’t last long at the top before Rosemary Mair had her on her way for a run-a-ball nine.

Alice Capsey, also back from WPL duty combined with Bouchier for a 75-run second wicket stand, but it was Bouchier who showed the dominant factor taking to the majority of the White Ferns bowlers.

New Zealand could never quite control Bouchier throughout her innings as she raced to her second T20I 50 from just 34 balls and was soon past her highest T20I score which had been 71 (made in the previous game).

Looking destined to bring up a maiden T20I century, Melie Kerr grabbed her for 91 from 56 balls in the 18th over, England now three down and 142 runs on the board.

Nat Sciver-Brunt (29*) and Heather Knight (21*) gave England a late push as they finished on 177/3 from their 20 overs.

Melie Kerr (1/42), Fran Jonas (1/39), and Mair (1/28) were the three bowlers with the wickets. It however was an expensive day all around for the Kiwi bowlers with Jess Kerr (0/30), Hannah Rowe (0/23 from two), and Sophie Devine (0/8 from one) all going at above seven runs conceded per over.

When Lauren Bell picked up Suzie Bates in the first over for five, the White Ferns would always be on the back foot from there. 

None of the top order were able to get going with England spinners Charlie Dean (4/26) and Sophie Ecclestone (1/19) causing havoc across each of their four overs. 

Bernie Bezuidenhout (23 from 22), Melie Kerr (21 from 17), and Brooke Halliday (25 from 23) all got starts but none could quite push on and make that big score as Bouchier did.

Maddy Green (seven from nine) and Izzy Gaze (15 from 17) struggled to get started with the required run rate climbing massively.

Rowe (six from eight), Jess Kerr (13* from 12), and Rosemary Mair (7* from seven) guided New Zealand to a modest reply of 130/7 from their 20 overs.

The big concern for the home side will be the fact that Sophie Devine picked up a niggle and was unable to bat.