Key events<\/p>\n
Melie Kerr and Charlie Dean<\/p>\n
Kerr: \u201cThose three legends of the game, the service they\u2019ve given to the shirt, we\u2019ll make sure we\u2019ll celebrate them tonight. I\u2019ve learnt so much coming into the White Ferns from them, I feel very grateful to have been so long with them in the dressing room.<\/p>\n
\u201cHas been a disappointing tournament for us, there is a lot to work on, if we can get five percent better in all disciplines, there is so much exciting talent in this group.\u201d<\/p>\n
Charlie Dean:\u201cWas really special tonight. [Why doing so well?] everyone stepping up, we know our roles as a bowling group, been great to have a lot of momentum that\u2019s what tournament cricket is all about. At The Oval there is always some extra bounce and hopefully similar conditions for the semis.<\/p>\n
And they\u2019re off to watch England now. \u201cHopefully we can go to the pub and watch the football \u2013 with a diet coke of course.\u201d Of course, Charlie.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n So West Indies make it through to the semi finals despite tripping up against Ireland and it wasn\u2019t to be for the defending champions New Zealand.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was the biggest crowd I\u2019ve played in front of for England,\u201d says DWH. \u201cIt was fantastic and everyone loves playing at The Oval. Susie was my idol growing up those three are legends of the game, sad night to see them go.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Player of the match – Danni Wyatt-Hodge for her 89 not out<\/p>\n Apparently she fell out of a tree when she was ten and hurt her wrist which enables her to play those crazy shots.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.11 EDT<\/p>\n There are hugs, there are more hugs. Bates licks her lips, Devine fiddles with her cap. I can\u2019t believe we\u2019re not going to see these brilliant women on a cricket field again. And already, the player of the match award is here. Who could it be?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.11 EDT<\/p>\n Oh that\u2019s lovely. The three legends, Devine, Tahuhu, Bates, walk through a long guard of honour made up of both teams and backroom staff, into their retirement. Devine turns and looks and waves to the record crowd, and all three remove their caps and doff them all around.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>England win by nine wickets and New Zealand are eliminated!<\/p>\n 18th over: England 164-1 (Wyatt-Hodge 89, Dunkley 49) Tahuhu\u2019s final over is not treated with dignity. Dunkley threads four through the covers, and the end comes with a wide.<\/p>\n Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Sophia Dunkley celebrate their 9 wicket victory. Photograph: COLORSPORT\/Ashley Western\/ShutterstockShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.48 EDT<\/p>\n 17th over: England 159-1 (Wyatt-Hodge 89, Dunkley 45) DWH is in the zone \u2013 just the most delicate twist and lock for four down to third off Kerr. Two more sumptuous strokes deserve four but bring two each. And, this is just showing off now, \u2013 a wristy pick up for six to bring the target to single figures! Five runs needed.<\/p>\n Today\u2019s attendance is also the biggest attendance ever for a women\u2019s T20 group game.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.41 EDT<\/p>\n 16th over: England 145-1 (Wyatt-Hodge 76, Dunkley 44) Beautiful skies, navy blue all around apart from the apricot shades of the west. DWH cuts Devine like a French nobleman curling his butter: four.A handful of singles follow.19 needed.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 15th over: England 138-1 (Wyatt-Hodge 70, Dunkley 43) Kerr, who has gone at more than ten an over so far, is back. DWH fancies more and duly slams front foot forward and swipes four down the ground. Dunkley has a go now, throwing her weight onto her back foot and sweep a wide ball for another boundary. 26 needed.<\/p>\n Sophia Dunkley thumps a shot. Photograph: Ben Whitley\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.39 EDT<\/p>\n 14th over: England 127-1 (Wyatt-Hodge 64, Dunkley 38) Ones made into twos with determination and gumption. Charlotte Edwards wasn\u2019t messing about when she said England needed to work on their fitness \u2013 they\u2019re pretty transformed in the field and between the wickets. 37 needed. <\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.33 EDT<\/p>\n 13th over: England 122-1 (Wyatt-Hodge 63, Dunkley 34) Oh that\u2019s the softest of hands, DWH directs Kerr between point and third and they watch it rumble over the rope. There are so many little girls and teenagers in the crowd tonight watching their heroes \u2013 and tonight is the biggest crowd of the tournament \u2013 over 21,000. High five to the organisers.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.33 EDT<\/p>\n 12th over: England 116-1 (Wyatt-Hodge 58, Dunkley 33) Kerr plays her Illing card with a breakthrough needed desperately. Dunkley manoeuvres like nimble forklift \u2013 forward, back \u2013 thwack past point for four. A couple of wides from a disillusioned bowler, then DWH powers her back over her head for four more.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.33 EDT<\/p>\n 11th over: England 101-1 (Wyatt-Hodge 50, Dunkley 28) Tahuhu, does she have magic in her fingers? Well, the first ball is invitingly wide and Dunkley needs no invitation \u2013 four. A wide adds to their woes, as does a last ball flourish over the covers by DWH for four more. Bell and Ecclestone watch with the relaxed posture of women who are pretty sure they\u2019re not going to have to bat.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.16 EDT<\/p>\n Fifty for Wyatt Hodge!<\/p>\n 10th over: England 95-1 (Wyatt-Hodge 50, Dunkley 23) We have pictures! Patel to stem the flow, navy blue towel bouncing like a tail as she skips in. DWH \u2013 a lofted drive with panache for four to bring up the fifty partnership. And then brings up her own fifty with a screaming outside edge \u2013 33 balls. At the halfway stage, England need 69.<\/p>\n Danni Wyatt-Hodge on here way to her half-century. Photograph: Graham Hunt\/ProSports\/ShutterstockShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.20 EDT<\/p>\n 9th over: England 83-1 (Wyatt-Hodge 39, Dunkley 22) Still no pictures. Kerr. A full toss smashed for four. Another four. Super excited crowd noises and bursts of pop music. And a third four. Sounds like Kerr is having a shocker.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.07 EDT<\/p>\n 8th over: England 70-1 (Wyatt-Hodge 26, Dunkley 22) I\u2019m not sure whats going on as we\u2019ve lost pictures from The Oval temporarily. Illing is bowling. Four dot balls, a single, a four from Dunkley.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.07 EDT<\/p>\n The covers are coming off<\/p>\n And the spectators perched on the top stand seems pretty perky. I can\u2019t see New Zealand coming back from this perilous position but we\u2019ve been here before. A rainbow arches over the pavilion where Mickey Stewart is chatting away. We\u2019re about to restart.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.07 EDT<\/p>\n Rain stops play<\/p>\n 7th over: England 65-1 (Wyatt-Hodge 25, Dunkley 18) I think the teams just took drinks, but I didn\u2019t see it. The captain brings herself on with New Zealand in real trouble. Her first ball won\u2019t win any prizes either and is also dispatched, by Dunkley, through the covers for four. It\u2019s starting to rain now and with five overs gone, DLS will come into play. Another powerful four thuds through the covers as Dunkley frees the bat and then the players trot off. We\u2019ll get a short break.<\/p>\n The covers come out! Photograph: Cat Goryn\/Action Images\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.01 EDT<\/p>\n 6th over: England 57-1 (Wyatt-Hodge 25, Dunkley 10) Sophie Devine offer a gravy-filled pie to DWH who dispatches it with glee. A similar pastry is gobbled up by Dunkley with the same result. And a third four as Dunkley steps outside off stump and sweeps away. In the crowd, a man in a red England shirt, with plans for later, jiggles with excitement.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.02 EDT<\/p>\n 5th over: England 43-1 (Wyatt-Hodge 20, Dunkley 1) Tahuhu, for one last stint. Iconic headband, narrowed eye. DWH slides a wide one between backward point and deep third for four.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.35 EDT<\/p>\n WICKET! Jones c Kerr b Patel 17 (England 36-1)<\/p>\n Delight for New Zealand as Jones chips limply straight to mid off.<\/p>\n 4th over: England 36-1 (Wyatt-Hodge 14) Kerr turns to Patel. She immediately slows things down and then draws DWH forward who dances into the danger zone, but keeper Gaze misses her cue behind the stumps. Jones goes next ball.<\/p>\n Nensi Patel is congratulated after taking the first wicket for New Zealand. Photograph: Graham Hunt\/ProSports\/ShutterstockShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.38 EDT<\/p>\n 3rd over: England 31-0 (Jones 16, Wyatt-Hodge 10) Jones gets in on the act, clonking Illing\u2019s first two balls for four, through midwicket, then backward point, then square-driving the fifth for another.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.27 EDT<\/p>\n 2nd over: England 19-0 (Jones 4, Wyatt-Hodge 10) Kerr bustles in. DWH continues her excellent work in the tournament with the innings\u2019 first boundaries off the bat, two of them, as she cuts, boots in the air, then pings over off side like a ping-pong player.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.24 EDT<\/p>\n 1st over: England 8-0 (Jones 2, Wyatt-Hodge 1) The lights are on, the south London skies start, slowly, to dim. Illing with the first over \u2013 fast and accurate. Just a single off the first three balls but the fourth ball wobbles legside for five wides. Illing hits 119.4kph.<\/p>\n Danni Wyatt-Hodge gets things moving for England. Photograph: Alan Stanford\/PPAUK\/ShutterstockShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.23 EDT<\/p>\n Right! Here we go. New Zealand need the win to avoid elimination.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n At the break, England are on top but New Zealand have a squirrel of a chance. Time to grab a quick drink of water.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>WICKET! Bates run out 19 (New Zealand 163-6) England need 164 to win!<\/p>\n 20th over: New Zealand 163-6 ( Green 17) A gold final over from Bell. Two singles \u2013 Green can\u2019t cash in on a full toss \u2013 then a bouncer passes a swivelling Bates. New Zealand squeeze another three and then Bates is run out flat out on her belly sprinting a bye off the last ball which is a cracking bouncer.<\/p>\n Suzie Bates didn\u2019t make it. Photograph: Cat Goryn\/Action Images\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.08 EDT<\/p>\n 19th over: New Zealand 158-5 ( Green 14, Bates 17) Three singles and leg bye \u2013 England unusuccesfully review an lbw against Bates \u2013 then Green steers behind square, screaming past a diving Bell for four.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.14 EDT<\/p>\n 18th over: New Zealand 148-5 ( Green 6, Bates 16) Dunkley cuts a finger in the field and jogs off the field to get taped up. Three singles mellows the mood but then Bates strikes the phosphorus. Finds the rope with an oopla sweep over her shoulder for four and ends up on her bum. She reverses, somewhat inelegantly, woodcutter-style, over the fielder for four more. Then a third successive four to finish the over, settles outside her stumps and flames legside.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 17th over: New Zealand 133-5 ( Green 4, Bates 3) When you want quick runs, you don\u2019t want to face Linsey Smith and miserly left arm. She rubs her fingers in the dirt. Five singles from it and a quarter-chance for Kemp in the field who chases a sweep from Green a square leg but can\u2019t get there.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 16th over: New Zealand 128-5 ( Green 1, Bates 1) Another two-wicket over for England! A double change with Bell replacing Dean. Some great hands from Kemp on the boundary who took that smashing catch in the last game. Then the wickets just as New Zealand got spikes on the track.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>WICKET! Devine lbw Bell 30 (New Zealand 126-5)<\/p>\n Devine takes guard a metre inside off stump and Bell hones in on the pads. Devine swings, misses and is sent on her way both by the on pitch ump and after a review. Bell is surrounded in huge hugs. Sophie, we salute you.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>WICKET! Halliday run out (Dean) 20 (New Zealand 124-4)<\/p>\n Halliday drives, calls, sprints, but can\u2019t beat a pin point direct hit from Charlie Dean! The balloon bursts.<\/p>\n Brooke Halliday walks as England celebrate! Photograph: Ben Whitley\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.46 EDT<\/p>\n 15th over: New Zealand 122-3 (Devine 28, Halliday 18) Back to Ecclestone, whose two overs have only cost seven runs. Ha, Devine has something to say about that \u2013 drops to her knee and slog-sweeps six more.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.35 EDT<\/p>\n 14th over: New Zealand 113-3 (Devine 21, Halliday 17) Charlie Dean. Halliday reverse-sweeps four past backward point. Then Devine one step, two -swings SIX, massive, over long on. And another one next ball, bigger even with a not done yet stamp. Seventeen from the over as they take DRINKS<\/p>\n Brooke Halliday showing her skills with a reverse sweep. Photograph: Graeme Wilcockson\/Focus Images Ltd\/ShutterstockShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.33 EDT<\/p>\n 13th over: New Zealand 96-3 (Devine 9, Halliday 12) Gibson again. In the dugout Edwards has her leg crossed, lounging. Some great fielding on the boundary by DWH (I think) stops four, but Devine finds the boundary next ball, swivelling with glee. Four legside wides follow.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 12th over: New Zealand 80-3 (Devine 2, Halliday 8) Halliday plumps her leg forward and crabs four off Dean through mid-off. New Zealand, I am told, have now played the equivalent of five overs of dot balls. In 12!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.22 EDT<\/p>\n 11th over: New Zealand 74-3 (Devine 1, Halliday 3) New Zealand have dropped purse, keys and novel into the mire. Devine now has her work cut out in her final (possible) appearance. Great over by Gibson.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>WICKET! Sharp b Gibson 0 (New Zealand 70-3)<\/p>\n Two in two for Gibson now, three in four for England! Sharp eyes the off side but instead gets a thick edge and turns her head to see stumps akimbo.<\/p>\n Dani Gibson\u2019s bails light up. Photograph: Keeran Marquis\/SPP\/ShutterstockShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.28 EDT<\/p>\n WICKET! Kerr b Gibson 42 (New Zealand 70-2)<\/p>\n Two in two for England! Kerr tries to scoop again, but this time clangs it into her stumps<\/p>\n Melie Kerr\u2019s bails light up as the scoop goes all wrong! Photograph: COLORSPORT\/Ashley Western\/ShutterstockShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.22 EDT<\/p>\n WICKET! Gaze c Capsey b Kemp 28 (New Zealand 70-1)<\/p>\n A slower ball and Gaze doesn\u2019t spot it, tries to clear the rope but Capsey is waiting and doesn\u2019t put a foot or finger wrong.<\/p>\n 10th over: New Zealand 70-1 (Kerr 42, Devine 0) Dean brings on Kemp and Gaze is lucky with an outside edge that flies away for four. The next shot is more deliberate as she quick-steps down the pitch and splurts four more past mid on . A chance then \u2013 a possible chance \u2013 but it chance goes to Ecclestone at mid off who isn\u2019t the most agile, and she\u2019s nowhere near. But Kemp gets her reward at the end of the over.<\/p>\n England celebrate the wicket of Izzy Gaze. Photograph: Graeme Wilcockson\/Focus Images Ltd\/ShutterstockShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.17 EDT<\/p>\n 9th over: New Zealand 59-0 (Kerr 41, Gaze 18) England burn a review going upstairs for a caught behind off Ecclestone as Gaze sweeps and misses. Was it glove? It was not. Next ball Gaze punts down the ground just over a reaching Ecclestone arm. Four from the over.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 8th over: New Zealand 55-0 (Kerr 40, Gaze 15) Dean brings herself on to replace Gibson, and Kerr immediately crashes her past mid off for four. Ecclestone claps vigorously in the field shouting encouragement. There is plenty of firepower in the bank for NZ, they probably need to go for broke quite soon.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 7th over: New Zealand 47-0 (Kerr 33, Gaze 14) The rain is starting to fall in Manchester, but I don\u2019t think it will make it down to The Oval in three hours. The power play ends but Sophie Ecclestone begins. The replays are showing that Kerr got an edge to the last ball of the last over which Jones lost track of \u2013 very hard though. Just three singles from the over.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a013.59 EDT<\/p>\n 6th over: New Zealand 44-0 (Kerr 31, Gaze 13) The final over of the power play is handed to Dani Gibson. Kerr is starting to motor. Four through the covers, four more scooped like a blissed out graduate flicking tie over shoulder at the end of a midsummer ball.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a013.56 EDT<\/p>\n 5th over: New Zealand 34-0 (Kerr 22, Gaze 12) Kerr sweeps Smith legside for four. And then Gaze does the same two balls later, with a huge elaborate stride of the front leg. A bird\u2019s eye view of the ground shows a very pretty picture, London stretching behind, azure skies.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 4th over: New Zealand 22-0 (Kerr 15, Gaze 7) Bell, hoppety, skip, strides in. A better, neater, over. Gaze tries to pull a bouncer but misses, by a fingernail. Just two runs from it. New Zealand might need to step on it here.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re at The Oval, do let me know what the atmosphere is like \u2013 looks great.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a013.47 EDT<\/p>\n 3rd over: New Zealand 20-0 (Kerr 14, Gaze 6) Smith is so rapid through her overs, no time for the batters to prep. Three singles keeps things ticking over then Gaze takes a large step down the pitch and sweeps her backward of square for four.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a013.43 EDT<\/p>\n 2nd over: New Zealand 12-0 (Kerr 12, Gaze 0) It looks pretty full at The Oval, spectators baking in the late afternoon sun, clad in sunglasses and wafting vigorously. A big round of applause for Lauren Bell. Her third ball is pretty short and Kerr duly finds her fighting stance and pulls her uppish and square for four. Four more comes through deep third. They run a quick single off the last \u2013 too risky? we\u2019ll never know as Ecclestone fumbles in the field.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a013.40 EDT<\/p>\n 1st over: New Zealand 1-0 (Kerr 1, Gaze 0) Linsey Smith with the new ball. Tosses it from hand to hand, collar buttoned up to the top, white suncream smeared in a stripe across her nose and cheeks. Just a single from the over as Smith is on the money straight away.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The commentators are all very interested in the \u201cgreenish tinge\u201d on the pitch.. Manna for Lauren Bell perhaps. Did Melie Kerr make the wrong choice at the toss? We will soon find out \u2013 Kerr and Gaze gallop onto the pitch.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The flags have been unfurled and we await the anthems. This match could mark the end of an unbelievable era for New Zealand cricket with Sophie Devine, Lea Tahuhu and Susie Bates all hanging up their boots at the end of this competition. The New Zealand women look quite emotional actually, England relaxed.<\/p>\n The scene is set\u2026 Photograph: COLORSPORT\/Ashley Western\/ShutterstockShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.26 EDT<\/p>\n Raf is at The Oval, laptop read. \u201c It\u2019s lovely here now \u2013 cooler than yesterday with sunshine and an evening breeze. Mid warm up, some of the NZ players gathered round the TV in their changing room to watch the denouement of Ireland v Windies. Lots of dancing and jumping up and down before resuming their warm up!\u201d<\/p>\n Lovely stuff, as Nasser says, there is now real tension in this match.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Nasser Hussain is excited about this game for England. \u201cIt is going to be virtually a sell out, The Oval is a ground they like, and it is now a live game. It is perfect preparation for the semi final coming up, and will focus the mind.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.25 EDT<\/p>\n England XI<\/p>\n England are unchanged, Nat Sciver-Brunt is \u201cnot far off\u201d says Charlie Dean.<\/p>\n England: Amy Jones (wk), Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Sophia Dunkley, Alice Capsey, Heather Knight, Freya Kemp, Dani Gibson, Charlie Dean (capt), Sophie Ecclestone, Linsey Smith, Lauren Bell.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a013.36 EDT<\/p>\n New Zealand XI<\/p>\n New Zealand: Melie Kerr (c), Izzy Gaze (wk), Izzy Sharp, Sophie Devine, Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Suzie Bates, Jess Kerr, Nensi Patel, Lea Tahuhu, Bree Illing.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Nw Zealand win the toss and bat<\/p>\n \u201cRuns on the board and scoreboard pressure,\u201d says NZ captain Melie Kerr. \u201cWe have been supporting Ireland and now it\u2019s in our hands, we\u2019re in a privileged position. It\u2019s a must-win match and \u2026we haven\u2019t been near our best yet, this is the day to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n Both sides are unchanged.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a013.35 EDT<\/p>\n Today\u2019s action is at The Oval, where the temperatures are not quite as dastardly as they have been. Ah, they\u2019re out in the middle, here comes the toss\u2026<\/p>\n