Captain Heather Knight scored the second ODI century of her career as England Women sealed the series against New Zealand, winning their fourth match in a close three-wicket haul at the Country Ground here.
England have taken a 3-1 lead in the five-match series.
Sent in to bat, New Zealand scored 244/8 in their 50 overs, with Amy Satterthwaite (54) and Katie Martin (65 not out half-centuries) as well as White Ferns captain Sophie Devine scoring 41 off 48 .
With the target of 245 the England women’s team had ever successfully chased in an ODI, it was going to be something special to pull it off and Knight’s 101 of 107 on Thursday evening was just that.
The captain was interrupted in the 12th over with England, thanks to a 52-run stand between Lauren Winfield-Hill and Tammy Beaumont. The bulk of those runs came from Winfield-Hill, who was dismissed first, scoring 33 off Hannah Rowe (4/47). England’s position of strength quickly deteriorated from there as Rowe left the hosts at 71/3 for Beaumont (16) and Nat Sciver (11) in their next two overs.
In the company of Amy Jones, Knight got England back on track as the duo put on 100 runs for the fourth wicket. Jones was killed in the 38th over, with England being dismissed at mid-off by Rowe, despite winning 74.
New Zealand’s hopes were further strengthened when Satterthwaite (1/34) caught Sophia Dunkley (0) for a duck in the 40th over, but Knight ensured England’s victory as she marched to her ton, eventually hitting a double- Devine (2/55) died in the over with the hosts just eight runs away from victory. Anya Shrubsole (6 not out) and Sophie Ecclestone (0*) took England to victory with three balls to spare.
Earlier, New Zealand found themselves in big trouble with early defeats by the top three batsmen. Suzy Bates fell first in an unfortunate run-out by Nat Sciver for 17, a mix-up with Lauren Downs at the cost.
Shrubsole did more damage with the wickets of Maddie Green (0) – caught by Freya Davis – and Down (11) – clean bowled. The visitors were reduced to 33/3 in 9.1 overs and Satterthwaite with Devine needed to rebuild the innings.
The pair did exactly as they did with a 56-run stand for the fourth wicket before Charlotte Dean (3/52) snatched Devine’s wicket, leaving his leg before wicket stuck in a tight 41-run stand.
Satterthwaite was added by Martin in the middle for a crucial 84-run partnership that set the stage for New Zealand in the final 10 overs.
Satterthwaite scored his twenty-fourth ODI half-century, however, falling shortly after Dean. Meanwhile, Martin completed his seventh ODI fifty in 65 balls.
Martin’s unbeaten 65 off 83 balls with cameos from Brooke Holiday (28 off 19 balls) and Hannah Rowe (15) pushed New Zealand to 244/8 in 50 overs which did not prove to be enough on the occasion.
Brief scores: New Zealand 288/8 in 50 overs (A Satterthwaite 54, S Devine 41, K Martin 65; C Dean 3/52) lost to England 245/7 in 49.3 overs (H Knight 101, A Jones 40; H Rowe 4/47 by 3 wickets.
get all IPL news and cricket score Here
.