Gaze’s Maiden 50 Goes in Vain as England Take Victory

Izzy Gaze’s maiden 50 held together the White Ferns innings alongside Brooke Halliday (33) after early trouble for the New Zealand batters.

Suzie Bates and Bernie Beuzidenhout opened up for the home side but both lost their wickets early with Bezuidenhout falling in the first over for one.

Stand-in captain Melie Kerr was soon too walking back as she tried to take on Nat Sciver-Brunt but found the hands of Alice Capsey for five.

Bates and Georgia Plimmer (12) both lost their wickets in quick succession to Charlie Dean and Sophie Ecclestone respectively with the home side in massive trouble at 31/4 inside the first seven overs.

Maddy Green and Halliday did a good job of restoring the White Ferns innings, but when Green fell for 10, it seemed like the White Ferns innings could soon be over.

However, income Gaze who put on a record sixth wicket stand alongside Halliday of 56 runs to take the White Ferns from 69/5 to 125/6 when Halliday went in the final over.

A last-ball four by Gaze ensured she made the milestone of her maiden 50 with the White Ferns posting 136/6 from their 20 overs.

The in-form player for England was Maia Bouchier, and the Kiwis knew this. Lea Tahuhu was able to taste some success as Bouchier edged behind to Gaze for just six and England lost their first.

Capsey and Dani Wyatt were able to go about their business stably, but the white of Capsey for 25 in the eighth over and Wyatt for 18 in the tenth, left the match in a pretty even position at 65/3 after ten.

Sciver-Brunt and England captain then were able to see their side right close to the end with Sciver-Brunt making 31 and falling to Melie Kerr with 16 runs still needed for the win.

Knight nearly got her side to the finishing mark but was out to Rosemary Mair for 35 with nine balls left and just five runs needed.

Amy Jones (6*) and Sophia Dunkley (6*) ensured that there weren’t any wobbles with England making the total with seven balls to spare and taking a five-wicket win.