Devine posts lovely century in White Ferns win
Fri 13 Jul 2018
RESULT | England 219 lost to New Zealand 224 for 6 by 4 wickets
REPORT | Sophie Devine guided New Zealand to their first win of the Royal London ODI series against England with a well-paced unbeaten 117 at the Fischer County Ground.
Openers Amy Jones (78, 95b, 6x4) and Tammy Beaumont (53) top-scored in England’s total of 219 while New Zealand spinner Leigh Kasperek took five for 39.
Devine then judged the chase perfectly as New Zealand recorded a four-wicket win to collect two points in the ICC Women’s Championship.
England, who won the three match series 2-1 playing some excellent cricket, was going along beautifully on 104 without loss in the 21st over after winning the toss as Beaumont and Jones played some fantastic strokes.
Beaumont reached 50 from 61 balls with her seventh four and the stand with Jones reached three figures in the same over, the 20th of the innings.
The White Ferns then took the pace off the ball to great effect. Off-spinner Kasparek struck in her first over, the 21st of the innings, as a Beaumont reverse-sweep looped off the glove to the ‘keeper, and six wickets came from her bowling in total as she also effected a run out.
Jones would go on to post 78 before being stumped from the bowling of another spinner, Jess Watkin (6-0-38-2), while seamer Hayley Jensen took two for 26 from her allocation, including the key wicket of captain Heather Knight (16) with a slower ball.
Katherine Brunt gave England the perfect start by striking in the very first over before Sophie Devine and Maddy Green added 74 for the second wicket.
Slow left armer Sophie Ecclestone bowled Green in the 18th over and Laura Marsh built on the breakthrough by bowling Suzie Bates (1).
The left-handed Amy Satterthwaite added 25 before being bowled by the returning Brunt but Devine was still there, and she reached 100 from 101 balls (11x4, 1x6) before fittingly hitting the winning six in the 45th over.
* Leicestershire Foxes' next Vitality Blast home game is against Lancashire Lightning on Wednesday. The best value tickets are available in advance – a family ticket for 2 adults and 3 under 16s is available for £37 in advance of the fixture. Secure your seat at the Fischer County Ground today HERE
