Key events
12th over: New Zealand 61-1 ( Plimmer 21, Kerr 29) Dean finds her line too, just three singles dabbed .
11th over: New Zealand 58-1 ( Plimmer 20, Kerr 27) Better from Sciver-Brunt, just a single from it. It’s hot, hot, hot out there – 40 degrees in the middle.
10th over: New Zealand 57-1 ( Plimmer 20, Kerr 26) Charlie Dean replaces the struggling Smith, and Kerr sweeps her immediately and with gumption for four. Eccleston is still off the field after hurting her left shoulder fielding on the rope earlier in the innings.
9th over: New Zealand 52-1 ( Plimmer 20, Kerr 21) Nat Sciver-Brunt replaces Bell and also struggles to hit her straps, Plimmer slams her last two balls to the rope.
8th over: New Zealand 43-1 ( Plimmer 12, Kerr 3) Smith has the most wickets in the power play, but something is amiss today. Kerr cracks her second ball to the rope, her third is a wide full toss that Kerr plonks behind square also for four, the free hit is spatulated through extra cover for four, and the next purred through cover for four more. Definitely time for a break.
7th over: New Zealand 25-1 ( Plimmer 12, Kerr 3) A handful of singles off Bell.
6th over: New Zealand 22-1 ( Plimmer 11, Kerr 1) Smith pockets a wicket despite not really finding her rhythm and the majestic Bates leaves the crease for possibly the final time.
WICKET! Bates c Lamb (sub) b Smith 10 (New Zealand 21-1)
A waist high full toss does for Bates who muscles it to mid off. The umpires check for a no ball – the players have their waist measurements checked before the tournament started – who knew? – but the ball is good. A pie, but good.
5th over: New Zealand 21-0 (Bates 10, Plimmer 11) Bell gets clonked for two fours by Plimmer.
New Zealand win the toss and bat – Wyatt-Hodge in
Argghgh I got my times totally wrong there, done by the clocks going back. Apologies. Danni Wyatt-Hodge plays for Emma Lamb. New Zealand unchanged.
Preamble
Good early morning and hello GMT for another year. It’s still black here, but not in broiling Visakhapatnam where England will be in top spirits – South Africa, their opponents in Wednesday’s semi-final, bundled out for 97 by Australia.
This is a dead game for both England and New Zealand – though England can leapfrog South Africa to finish second behind Australia in the group stage – an ego-boost, but no more. New Zealand, who have had a disappointing tournament, stalked by rain and just one win, against Bangladesh, say farewell to faithful captain Sophie Devine who plays her final ODI of a stonking career of 158 matches, 4,256 runs and 110 wickets.
On paper, this also seems a good chance for England to give a game to some of the drinks carriers – to Danni Wyatt Hodges, mysterious bench warmer as the middle order implodes, or Lauren Filer. But Charlotte Edwards has not been moved so far.
Play starts at 5.30am GMT, grab an early morning brew and join us.
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