Sophie Ecclestone suffered an injury scare ahead of the Women’s Cricket World Cup semi-final as England wrapped up their league campaign with an eight-wicket victory over New Zealand after an erratic display of bowling and clinical batting.
Left-armer Ecclestone shook his bowling shoulder trying to prevent an edge in the opener of Sunday’s match in Vizag and soon left the field for assessment.
The 26-year-old was back on the park and even came in to bowl the 23rd, only to start again as soon as Brooke Halliday (4) was caught at deep mid-wicket from her fourth legal delivery in New Zealand’s total of 168 in 38.2 overs.
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Ecclestone dismissed New Zealand’s Brooke Halliday before she immediately left the field with a shoulder injury she picked up earlier in the game
Ecclestone was not seen again in the innings, leaving England to sweat for fitness ahead of Wednesday’s semi-final against South Africa in Guwahati, live Ski Sports Cricket (9.30 UK).
Amy Jones (86 not out from 92 balls) and Tammy Beaumont (40) shared their highest opening stand of the tournament – 75 off 89 balls – before Jones and Heather Knight (33 off 40) added 83 in a partnership as England cruised to the target with 125 deliveries to spare, bouncing back from loss to Australia and finishing second in the table to South Africa.
Danni Wyatt-Hodge (2no) replaced a failed Emma Lamb for England and was out at No.4 with 11 runs needed after New Zealand captain Sophie Devine (1-20) pinned Knight lbv to take her 111th ODI wicket in her 159th and final match.
Jones, who now has two half-centuries in the last three innings, sealed the victory with back-to-back fours off Devina, whose New Zealand team have won just one of their seven games with four losses and two rainouts.
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Amy Jones hit New Zealand Navy’s Rosemary Meir for three fours in a row during the 26th over.
England beat New Zealand after early struggles with the ball
New Zealand squandered a good start after Devine elected to bat and the White Ferns reached 89-1 in the 19th over before Mellie Kerr (35) and Georgia Plimer (43) fell on back-to-back deliveries.
New Zealand had earlier made 17 runs off four balls from Lynsey Smith (3-30) as the England spinner conceded four consecutive boundaries while bowling Kerr, including a horrendous no-ball that reached the batsman above waist height.
England’s bowling was loose early – even the first wicket of Susie Bates (10), caught at mid-off by substitute fielder Lamb, came off a full toss from Smith – but they tightened up as the innings wore on.
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
New Zealand captain Sophie Devine was dismissed for 23 in her final one-day international innings
New Zealand faded when Kerr felled Alice Capsey – Charlie Dean with a catch in her 100th England appearance – and Plymer was then pinned lbw by Dean one ball later.
There were plenty of soft dismissals, including Maddie Green who bowled Capsey with a full toss, although it took some big cricket to remove Devine for 23; England wicketkeeper Jones with a smart catch after Divine was dismissed by a Nat Sciver-Brunt off-cutter.
England will want a sharper all-round display – and a fully fit Ecclestone – when they face off the South African side they bundled out for 69 in Guwahati en route to a 10-wicket victory in their first game of the tournament on October 3.
England World Cup results and fixtures
All times in Great Britain and Ireland, all live on Ski Sports
Watch Women’s Cricket World Cup live Ski Sports Cricket throughout, up to and including the final on Sunday 2nd November. Stream cricket, football, golf and more without a contract with NOV.