key events
Round 5: New Zealand 22-2 (Bates 10, Primmer 4) Sciver-Brunt continued.Wyatt missed out run out of chances Hailing from Midwick, Bates was summoned shortly after Plymer on an inconclusive single.
The single was the only run scored by Seaver Brunt in another fine game, as his numbers were 3-0-7-2. She might as well just roll around.
Round 4: New Zealand 21-2 (Bates 10, Primmer 3) Farrar’s no-ball meant a free hit for New Zealand, although Betts could only hit the ball over the pitcher’s head for a single.
Primmer looked uncomfortable against Farrar. She was defeated, taking a few cuts on the cover and then a short ball on her body. Bates took the more aggressive option and charged down the track, delivering the goods for four and two in a row.
Game 3: New Zealand 10-2 (Bates 3, Primo 0) Heather Knight said she would pitch first if she won. You can see why. The new ball had some effect and England got off to a brilliant start.
wicket! New Zealand 10-2 (A Kerr c Capsey b Sciver-Brunt 5)
Nat Sciver-Brunt had two. Amelia Kerr, trapped at the crease as Amy Jones was already at the stumps, hit a straight drive high in the air. Alice Capsey runs through the middle and catches the ball easily.
Round 2: New Zealand 9-1 (Baez 2, Kerr 5) Lauren Filer shares the new ball. Her extra pace required some adjustment; after missing a few overs outside off-stump, Cole premeditated four overs. A great pass from Feiler ended with a big infielder that Cole knocked to the mat from inside.
Round 1: New Zealand 5-1 (Baez 2, Kerr 1) Captain Amelia Cole is the new batsman.
wicket! New Zealand 4-1 (Beziidenhout c Jones b Seaver-Brent 1)
An early wicket for England. Nat Sciver-Brunt almost bowled Suzie Bates with the first ball of the match, but late in the game, Bernardine Bezuiden Bernadine Bezuidenhout fell behind. Beziidenhout tried to cut out a ball that restricted her space and passed narrowly to Amy Jones. Finish.
The players are here. Who knew it would be windy in Wellington today, even though the sun was shining brightly. Suzie Bates and Bernardine Bezuidenhout will bat.
Team News
One change for England: Lauren Filler Replaces Lauren Bell, who is resting ahead of the ODI series.
New Zealand made two changes: Georgia Plimer and Leah Tahuhu Substitutes Hannah Rowe and injured Sophie Devine.
New Zealand Bates, Bezuidenhout, A Kerr (c), Plimmer, Green, Halliday, Gaze (wk), J Kerr, Tahuhu, Mair, Jonas.
England Wyatt, Butchier, Capsey, Seaver-Brent, Knight (center), Jones (week), Dunley, Gibson, Ecclestone, Dean, Filler.
New Zealand wins toss and batting competition
Amelia Kerr, who captains New Zealand at home in the absence of Sophie Devine, said the pitch looked good and stressed that all four matches were won by the team batting first.
Heather Knight wasn’t too disappointed after yet another defeat – saying England would bowl first.
Preface
Look, there is no dead rubber in a World Cup year. Sure, England have an undisputed 3-1 lead heading into today’s fifth and final T20I, but part of this series is just about winning. New Zealand and England are still preparing their squads and squads for the T20 World Cup in September and this match should give them more energy.
Maia Bouchier has been on the fast track for England, perhaps in the first XI, and she’s in glow in Nelson and Wellington. A third consecutive fifty will make her un-droppable heading into her hometown summer, if she isn’t already.
England may decide to take a look at some of their fringe players, particularly Tammy Beaumont and Lauren Filer. There are eight T20Is left this summer, so that’s not all of these players, but life can move fast when the World Cup is around the corner.
Sophie Devine’s quadriceps injury means New Zealand must also make at least one change. We’ll have pitching and team news coming soon.
Competition starts at midnight GMT1pm, Wellington.
