The ruthless edge England showed to complete unbeaten T20 World Cup group stage campaign against New Zealand

England completed an unbeaten group-stage campaign with a comprehensive nine-wicket victory over ICC Women’s T20 World Cup holders New Zealand.

The hosts were already qualified, while the White Ferns needed a win to progress, but England were ruthless as they pulled off the joint-highest run chase in World Cup history to end New Zealand’s defence in the group stages.

England must now wait for the final two group games to be completed on Sunday to learn who they will face, having topped Group A comfortably with the West Indies taking the other spot from England’s group.

Choosing to bat, New Zealand picked when to accelerate and when to be patient as England alternated economic and expensive overs.

The game ebbed and flowed until it thundered into England’s favour with three wickets in four balls, all without conceding a run.

Gaze was the first to get out, caught by Alice Capsey on the boundary for 28, and Kerr went the very next ball.

The skipper was furious with herself as she attempted to ramp Dani Gibson for the second time but instead was bowled for 42.

Gibson (2/30) got her second of the over two balls later as she dismissed Izzy Sharp for a duck, to leave New Zealand 70 for three and with two new batters at the crease.

Those batters, Brooke Halliday and Sophie Devine, combined well to get New Zealand back on track, bringing up their 50 partnership from only 25 balls as Devine hit three sixes in five balls.

The partnership ended on 54 as Halliday was expertly run out for 20 by Charlie Dean and Devine went two balls and two runs later, given out LBW off the bowling of Lauren Bell for a blistering 30 from 14.

Once again, New Zealand had two new batters at the crease having slipped to 126 for five with Suzie Bates (19) and Maddy Green (17 not out) taking on the charge.

They combined well to move the White Ferns to 163 for six with Bates run out off the final ball of the over.

England made light work of the early part of the chase but they were pinned back when Amelia Kerr caught Amy Jones for 17 off the bowling of Nensi Patel.

The rain started to swirl around the Oval and the teams went off with 99 runs needed for victory, but on return England continued to motor.

Patel was left on her knees as an edge flew to the boundary as Danni Wyatt-Hodge brought up her third 50 of the World Cup off 33 balls.

As England moved past 100 in the 11th over, there was an air of inevitability as the hosts picked their gaps superbly.

Wyatt-Hodge and Sophia Dunkley combined for a century partnership and to push the chase below a run-a-ball.

Victory was completed with 16 balls to spare as Dunkley ended on 49 not out from 38, with Wyatt-Hodge carrying her bat with 89 not out from 53 balls with 15 fours and one six.

With defeat, New Zealand have to say goodbye to three retiring legends, with Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine and Lea Tahuhu calling time on their international career, having represented the White Fern 894 times collectively.

All three were part of New Zealand’s triumph in 2024, their first T20 World Cup, and bowed out in front of a record group-stage crowd of 21,018, a reflection of where they have helped push the game to.

Earlier in the day, the West Indies had left the door ajar for New Zealand after Ireland secured their first-ever ICC Women’s T20 World Cup win with a six-wicket victory.

The 2016 champions were only able to muster 128 runs in Bristol to give Ireland a shot at a maiden victory on their 22nd attempt.

Hayley Matthews, Stafanie Taylor and Deandra Dottin all struck at under 100 with Chinelle Henry’s 27 not out off 21 balls pushing West Indies to a defendable total.

In reply, Ireland lost captain Gaby Lewis early but that brought Orla Prendergast to the crease as her 63 from 44 balls put them on the brink of victory before Louise Little hit the boundary for an historic win.

Follow the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 at https://www.icc-cricket.com/