‘I’m in shock’ – England keep World Cup hopes alive with nail-biting New Zealand win

England beat New Zealand by one wicket on the Ladies’s World Cup (Image: Getty)

Defending champions England saved their Ladies’s World Cup hopes alive with a dramatic one-wicket win over hosts New Zealand in Auckland.

Heather Knight’s facet, who had misplaced three of their 4 video games earlier than going through New Zealand, bowled the Kiwis out for 203 in 48.5 overs.

New Zealand made a powerful begin as openers Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates placed on 61 in 11.4 overs, however England took six wickets for 34 runs within the center overs.

Kate Cross and Sophie Ecclestone each took three wickets and Charlie Dean chipped in with took two as England’s bowlers impressed in opposition to the harmful New Zealand.

Chasing 204 to win at Eden Park, a 70-run stand between Nat Sciver and Sophia Dunkley seemed to be taking England to a cushty victory.

However England suffered a collapse of their very own – dropping 5 wickets for 20 runs – which left them 196-9.

New Zealand had been favourites to triumph at that stage however England quantity 11 Anya Shrubsole drove a boundary off Brooke Halliday to tie the scores earlier than hitting the profitable runs from the subsequent supply within the forty eighth over.

Sophie Ecclestone helped England limit New Zealand at Eden Park (Image: Getty)

England’s victory sees them climb to fifth within the World Cup desk – degree on factors with India and New Zealand – forward of their remaining two group video games in opposition to bottom-placed Pakistan and Bangladesh.

‘There's a little bit of reduction, we are going to mirror on what we will do higher and we will make it simpler however the primary factor was getting the win,’ England captain Knight mentioned.

All-rounder Sciver added: ‘It’s loopy we obtained over the road once we in all probability shouldn't have. I'm in shock, there have been so many shut video games on this event.’

In the meantime, pre-tournament favourites Australia secured their place within the semi-finals and maintained their good file with a six-wicket victory over India.

Meg Lanning’s 97 and 72 from Alyssa Healy helped Australia full the very best chase in Ladies’s World Cup historical past as India’s 277-7 proved inadequate.

South Africa, West Indies and India at the moment occupy the opposite three semi-final spots.

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