A devastating career-best opening spell from pace bowler Lea Tahuhu spearheaded the White Ferns to a nail-biting three-wicket victory over England on Wednesday morning (NZ time).
Playing a day after a security scare for the visiting side, Tahuhu took five wickets – including four in her first five overs – as the hosts were dismissed for just 178 in the third one-day international of the series in Leicester.
In reply, New Zealand reached their target with 25 balls in hand as they managed to keep the five-game women’s cricket series alive, reducing the deficit to 2-1 and bolstering their confidence despite some worrying moments in their chase as they build towards the World Cup to be held here in March-April next year.
Tahuhu, playing her 74th ODI after missing the three-match Twenty20 series between the two sides as she recovered from a skin cancer scare, had been used in the middle overs in the two previous one-dayers to good effect. But at Leicester she shared the new white-ball with skipper Sophie Devine before debutante quick Molly Penfold landed England in further hot water.
The 30-year-old’s first five-wicket bag in ODIs began when she trapped Tammy Beaumont lbw, courtesy of a third-umpire review. She dismissed the other opener, Lauren Winfield-Hill lbw in her next over and snared the big wicket of opposing captain Heather Knight in her third over, caught behind by wicketkeeper Katey Martin.
Penfold, a late inclusion to the touring squad when Rosemary Mair was ruled out through injury, grabbed her first international wicket with a cracking delivery to bowl Engand’s wicketkeeper-batter Amy Jones and finished her 10 overs with 2-42.
When Tahuhu grabbed her fifth scalp, England were in tatters at 78-7 in the 23rd over, but Katherine Brunt gave them a chance to apply some pressure to the NZ batting line-up by making 49 not out off 98 balls at No.8, putting on 53 for the ninth wicket with Kate Cross.
Three days previously, the White Ferns had also done an excellent job in dismissing the ODI world champs for under 200 but failed to chase down a winning score in Worcester.
Perhaps with that playing on their minds, New Zealand made a shaky start to their chase, losing both openers within seven overs to Brunt.
However, the reliable Amy Satterthwaite combined with Maddy Green to form a third-wicket partnership of 72 and it was a surprise when she fell for 33 off 54 balls, caught trying to loft off-spinner Dean.
Devine lasted just 12 balls, bowled playing an ugly heave across the line to Brunt, but Green – who was dropped when on 22 by Sophie Ecclestone off Dean in the 18th over – got further support from Brooke Halliday (25 off 38 balls) before another mini-slump kept England in the hunt.
Brunt took 4-22 off her 10 overs for a brilliant match double but Green was unbowed at the end on 70 from 106 balls, while Tahuhu capped her match-winning contribution with a six to end the game as she made an unbeaten 19 off just 15 deliveries.
“It was nice to finally get one over the line,” Devine said shortly after Tahuhu struck the winning runs.
“A little tighter than we’d like … we’re closing the gap on England and trending in the right direction heading to the World Cup.”
Game four is on Friday morning (NZ time).
England 178 all out off 48.3 overs (K Brunt 49no; L Tahuhu 5-37) lost to New Zealand 181-7 off 45.5 overs (M Green 70no, A Satterthwaite 33; Brunt 4-22) by three wickets. England lead the series 2-1.
