ENG-W vs NZ-W: Brooke Halliday, bowlers star as New Zealand draw series in Cardiff

New Zealand women levelled the three-match ODI series against England women with a 17-run win in the third ODI on Saturday, May 16, at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff. After being put in to bat first, England posted a decent score of 181/7 in the rain-curtailed 33-over fixture. Alice Capsey, Heather Knight (28 off 42) and Amy Jones (27 off 21) made valuable contributions for the hosts.

For New Zealand, Bree Illing (2/29, 7 overs) and Rosemary Mair (2/41, 7 overs) scalped two wickets each. In reply, New Zealand reached 141/4 after 24.4 overs with solid contributions from Brooke Halliday (42* off 54) and Maddy Green (37 off 43).

However, their run chase was halted by another rain interruption, and New Zealand were eventually declared winners by the DLS method. As a result, the three-match series ended with a 1-1 draw, after the second ODI was also washed out due to rain. The two teams will next lock horns in a three-match T20I series beginning on May 20.

Top run-scorer of the Match

Top wicket-taker of the Match

Player of the Match

Brooke Halliday was adjudged Player of the Match for her magnificent innings of an unbeaten 42* (54), studded with four fours that kept New Zealand's chase on track. Meanwhile, Maddy Green was adjudged Player of the Series for finishing as the leading run scorer across two completed games, with 125 runs from two innings.

Turning Point

Brooke Halliday first added 57 runs off 68 balls for the fourth wicket with Maddy Green after the White Ferns were left reeling at 40/3 by Lauren Bell. She further got involved in another unbeaten 44-run stand off 43 balls with Isabella Gaze (22* off 23), which took her team to the verge of victory. Those two partnerships eventually became the turning point of the match.

What did the captains say:

Winning Captain, Amelia Kerr (New Zealand Women):

"A win today to level the series... any time you win against a quality England side is pleasing. At 40 for 3 on a tricky wicket, absorbed that pressure, brilliant to watch. Points for the World Cup are important for us, hopefully to qualify. The cricket Gods looked after us, winning the toss and getting the win. We're the lucky ones to have seen the impact she's had on the group, every player growing up looked up to Suzie, she'll be an incredible loss when she finally steps away."

Losing Captain, Charlotte Dean (England Women):

"I guess batting first on a day like today is tricky to manage, adjusting tempo after planning for 50 overs is hard. Alice and Freya batted remarkably well together, but shortened overs you want to accelerate. DLS and wickets in hand is tricky. Wickets was how we'd get back into the game, manipulating that as best as possible, but Bell bowled remarkably up top. I've enjoyed the captaincy, the girls have supported me."