New Zealand beat England by three wickets in a tense third ODI to keep the five-game series alive; Lea Tahuhu leads her career-best 5-37 and connects winning runs, while Maddy Green makes an undefeated 70 while White Ferns chases 179; Katherine Brunt’s 49th and 4-22 to no avail for England
Lea Tahuhu was in brilliant form when she took 5-37 and then scored an undefeated 19 to seal the victory.
Lea Tahuhu and Maddy Green were the stars when New Zealand claimed a nervous three-field victory over England in the third one-day international to keep the five-match series alive.
Tahuhu broke England’s higher order to take a career-best 5-37 before running late and sealing the victory with a six after Green (70th) led the chase at 179.
England had Katherine Brunt to thank for making sure the game was as even as it was. The 36-year-old off-roader hit an undefeated 49 to help her team salvage some of their innings after going 78-7 before taking 4-22 on the ball.
However, that was not enough, as Green stood his ground and enlisted the valuable support of Amy Satterthwaite (33) and Brooke Halliday (25) to clinch the win at 46, ending his losing streak to come back. at 2-1 in the series. .
After being asked to hit first for the third time in as many games, England quickly found themselves under pressure as Tahuhu wreaked havoc with the new ball.
The New Zealand closer needed an overhaul to get the lbw decision against Tammy Beaumont (1) but once she showed the ball hit the pad before the bat, the starter was gone.
Lauren Winfield-Hill (4) followed, another lbw, this time confirmed in the review with the ball that was shown simply cutting the stump of the leg and when Heather Knight (6) was caught behind a ball out of out, England was in trouble.
It only got worse when Sophia Dunkley (6) was caught in the crease and thrown to leave the home team at 27-4, all four falling to the seemingly unstoppable Tahuhu.
Amy Jones (21) and Danni Wyatt (10) managed to briefly stop the slide before succumbing to rookie Molly Penfold (2-42), Wyatt fell to a surprising reception with a hand from Lauren Down on the point back.
Tahuhu returned to complete his five on the wicket of Charlie Dean, who dragged the ball on his stumps while playing and when player Leigh Kasperek (1-28) had Sophie Ecclestone lbw at the start of the 30, England were 101-8 and far from a competitive total.
However, the ever-resilient Brunt held out and found a willing ally in Kate Cross. For the next 12 overs, the pair managed to frustrate the White Ferns, who, with Tahuhu eliminated, were unable to maintain their initial intensity.
New Zealand needed some good luck to finally break the 53-run stand, Brunt returned the ball to Kasperek and the bowler only got one finger, deflecting it towards the stumps with Cross (29) unable to make his ground as she fell back.
Tash Farrant had played a valuable role with the bat in the second ODI and he did it again here, making the most of being dropped twice in a Hayley Jensen to add 24 useful runs for the last ground with Brunt.
Jensen finally had his window when he caught Farrant (12) lbw in 49 to leave Brunt stranded for less than what would have been a well-deserved half-century and hold England’s unwanted record of being eliminated in all ODIs in the ones who hit first this year.
Even with England’s tail wagging, the game was for New Zealand to take with only 179 needed for victory.
However, having failed the chase in each of the series’ first two games, the batting lineup lacked confidence and nerves would have been jangling again when Brunt fired starters Suzie Bates (5) and Lauren Down (7). ) within the field. first seven overs.
Bates had already survived an lbw appeal to the umpire’s call for being too low down the field before it was castled and Down was caught on the spot behind the ball after another review, this time by caught behind.
Satterthwaite joined Green at 13-2 and, with such a modest total to chase, they were able to take their time and gradually rebuild the innings.
Having seen Brunt’s opening spell, the races started to come a little more freely and they soon found themselves in a very strong position with the race rate of just over three and eight wickets still in hand.
Green offered Ecclestone a tough chance when he tried to hit Dean (1-38) over the top, the fielder was able to put a hand on the ball but could not hold on as the ball drifted towards the fence.
However, the same pair combined for the forward wicket, Satterthwaite advanced this time but was beaten on the fly and threw a single catch to Ecclestone midway.
When Brunt came back and fired Sophie Devine (3), the New Zealand captain threw in a pitch while playing a horrible trick on the other side of the line, to increase the pressure again, but Brooke Halliday helped Green get things back on track. for the tourists.
The pair scored with a decent lick, as they totaled 52 for the fifth wicket to lead New Zealand in the face of victory, Green reaching a well-built half-century in the process.
