New Zealand shared the series spoils and the ICC Championship points after winning the final women's one-day international at Cardiff on Saturday by six wickets via the DLS method. The match, reduced by rain, saw the tourists recover from an early wobble to secure a series-levelling victory.
Lauren Bell had initially reduced New Zealand to 40 for three, but a brief injury scare when she took a blow to her hand in her follow-through did not prove serious. Stand-in captain Charlie Dean confirmed it was precautionary, noting Bell had bruised her left thumb in practice the previous day.
Bell returned to bowl the 26th over, but the umpires soon halted play due to rain. By then, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday and Izzy Gaze had batted with enough assertiveness to ensure New Zealand were well ahead on DLS, tying the series 1-1.
Earlier, England had managed 181 for seven, with Alice Capsey and Freya Kemp sharing a 57-run partnership after a lengthy rain delay. However, a mini-collapse of three wickets in 11 balls dashed hopes of a larger total. Jess Kerr and Lauren Bell exploited the cloudy conditions with swing bowling.
The match marked the final ODI appearance for New Zealand legend Suzie Bates, who scored 12 runs in her 184th and last innings. Maddy Green praised Bates, saying: 'She's still one of the fittest in our team at 38, she's the hardest worker, and an amazing teammate. She leaves a massive hole for us for sure.'
