Match Report, ECB Development XI v New Zealand Women
New Zealand Women warmed up for their One Day International Series with England with a 70-run victory over an ECB Development XI at the Banks Homes Riverside despite a maiden five wicket haul for Warwickshire’s Phoebe Brett.
The slow left-arm orthodox bowler sent back the visitors’ top three batters before returning to finish the innings with two more wickets and land her best figures of 5-27. It took a crucial 65-run partnership between Melie Kerr and Flora Devonshire for the ninth wicket to rescue their side from 119-8 in the 35th over and reach 200 all out in 47.3 overs and that proved to be sufficient.
The ECB Development XI had early struggles of their own, losing four wickets for 57 with Georgie Boyce making 32. Some accurate and tight bowling from the New Zealanders’ attack saw the ECB team reach 91-6 at the halfway stage before being bowled out for 130 in the 37th over. The two teams then played on to use the remaining 13 overs for match practice.
Following an uncontested toss, Rosemary Mair bowled both Aylish Cranstone and Abbey Freeborn for 1, following the earlier departure of Tilly Kesteven for 11, with the Development XI 54-3 at the start of the 12th over.
Opener Boyce was going along nicely, having hit six fours in making 32 off 41 balls, before being run out while Ella Claridge and Mia Rogers steadied the innings with a partnership of 28 until the former drove left-arm spinner Devonshire to Bates at long-on for 18 with the ECB side 91-6 at halfway.
Rogers was then beaten by a lovely turning delivery from Nensi Patel for 21 and the innings subsided from that point with the Development XI 130 all out.
It was Brett who struck two early blows in the New Zealand innings trapping both Suzie Bates, sweeping, and Georgia Plimmer lbw playing back for 19 apeice in the space of five balls of the 12th over.
Charlotte Lambert trapped Amelia Kerr lbw for 1 and when Brett had Maddy Green caught by Josie Groves at long-off for 1, New Zealand were in early trouble on 49-4 in the 16th over.
The England attack kept up the pressure, Claudie Cooper, Groves, Baker and Thaker each claiming a wicket before Kerr (44) and Devonshire (30 not out) built their crucial stand with Brett returning to take the final two wickets.
Phoebe Brett, said:
“It was really good fun.
“It’s good to be able to test my skills against the best players.
“It (her three top order wickets) set the tone of the innings, I think, after our openers bowled really well. So, it was good to just follow that up.
“It’s good, playing in these games and getting your name out there. But then being able to put on a performance, that’s what everyone really hopes to do.
“I think there’s definitely still a lot of development to happen (in my game).
“I’m still only in my first year of all this professionalism, so I’m just getting to learn as much as I can from the people that you I play with. There’s so much to learn out there.
“I’ve got exams (this summer), so I’m aiming sort of kick through those and then try to fill in with Warwickshire where I can, try and make an impact there.
“And then The Hundred as well, that’s a big goal to be the best as I can and be in good rhythm for that.”