In front of a record-breaking crowd at The Oval, Danni Wyatt-Hodge delivered yet another outstanding innings to keep England undefeated and eliminate New Zealand from the 2026 T20 World Cup in their final group-stage encounter.
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| Danni Wyatt-Hodge quickly reached fifty |
With a decisive victory, this time by nine wickets, England concluded the group stage as they had begun, allowing the West Indies to sneak into the semi-finals after losing to Ireland earlier in the day.
Wyatt-Hodge was the standout, again like on the first night against Sri Lanka, scoring an undefeated 89 off 53 balls in an uninterrupted partnership of 128 with Sophia Dunkley, who struck 49 not out as England reached their target of 164 with 16 balls remaining. In the 2009 T20 Women's World Cup semi-final match against Australia at The Oval, England also accomplished the highest successful run chase.
They accomplished this on a record-breaking day in front of 21,018 spectators, the most for a T20 Women's World Cup group stage match. With 282 runs and counting, Wyatt-Hodge, on the other hand, became the highest run scorer at a single T20 Women's World Cup. After an undefeated century against Sri Lanka and a tough 65 in the sweltering heat against the West Indies earlier in the week, she performed brilliantly in her third excellent innings of the World Cup, cutting and driving to the boundary seemingly at will.
New Zealand, the reigning champions, entered the game knowing that a victory would advance them to the semi-finals following a challenging season in which they had won two games and lost two. However, they were unable to extend the retirement celebration for Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates, and Lea Tahuhu, who all ended their international careers at the group stage with 448 caps under their belts.
Devine provided her signature fireworks with a 14-ball cameo for 30, while Melie Kerr squandered her impressive start by leading the White Ferns in scoring with 42 off 34 balls. England's goal was raised to 164 by Bates' final 19 off 13.
Wyatt-Hodge does it once more
Amy Jones and Wyatt-Hodge scored 31 runs in the first three overs. Jones was very aggressive against Bree Illing, pulling, cutting, and driving three fours in five balls. But by the end of the fourth, England were 36 for 1 after she chipped off spinner Nensi Patel straight to mid-off.
As Wyatt-Hodge and Dunkley finished the powerplay at 57 for 1, equal to their best of the tournament, against West Indies at Lord's, where they had given up two wickets, Devine resumed the attack in the sixth over but battled for line and length and was punished with three fours.
As the players exited the pitch shortly after the power play, a quick downpour broke the warmth and the match's momentum in South London. However, Wyatt-Hodge and Dunkley continued where they had left off when play resumed. Wyatt-Hodge reached her fifty off 33 balls by climbing into three fours off one Melie over and two more from Patel in the following over. Wyatt-Hodge and Dunkley were able to easily see their side home after that.
White Ferns get off to a great start
Melie and Isabella Gaze, who were paired against Scotland in the previous match with Georgia Plimmer on the bench, continued to be New Zealand's opening combination, as the two produced a stand of 70 in 60 balls.
Melie hit the boundary twice in three balls during Dani Gibson's opening over with a beautiful back-foot drive followed by a ramp after being powerful on the cut and sweep early on. Gaze attempted to shoot herself two balls later, but Amy Jones mishandled the ball behind the stumps, causing New Zealand to sigh with relief as they advanced to the powerplay 44 without losing.
For England, three out of four
Sophie Ecclestone closed out the openers by giving up just seven runs in her first two overs. After that, Gaze hit consecutive fours off Freya Kemp, but he skied the final ball of Kemp's opening over to long-on, where Alice Capsey made a confident catch just inside the edge of the boundary.
After failing to convert a start for the third time in four innings, Melie was enraged with herself when she missed an attempt to scoop off Gibson and was bowled the next ball. She threw her head back and thrashed her bat through the air.
Two balls later, Gibson dragged one through from outside off stump and found the outside edge, which clattered against the stumps, causing Izzy Sharp to fall. Gibson was now at 2 for 14 from two overs, while New Zealand was at 70 for 3 from 70 without loss.
A cameo by Devine
Devine's special was needed for New Zealand's predicament, and she delivered it to a certain extent in her usual explosive manner. Devine was on 27 off 10 balls when she hit three enormous leg-side sixes in as many balls as she faced. She also established a strong partnership with Brooke Halliday, which they eventually expanded to 54 in 29 deliveries. The White Ferns were back on track at 124 for 3 thanks to their efforts, but it was undone once more.
Dean's direction
Charlie Dean, England's acting captain, delivered a spectacular direct hit to end Devine-Halliday's union. England had been astute in the field. Dean swooped just inside the ring and shot the ball to the non-striker's end after Halliday threw a Lauren Bell delivery into the off-side, splattering the stumps with Halliday well short of her ground.
Two balls later, Devine was hit on the pads while trying to slog to Bell. Ball-tracking revealed she was plump while she reviewed. After having a small contribution down the order, that propelled Bates to the crease. Before being run out on the final delivery of the innings, Bates, who was only playing in her third game of the competition, added 19 off 13 balls.
Melie hit the boundary twice in three balls during Dani Gibson's opening over with a beautiful back-foot drive followed by a ramp after being powerful on the cut and sweep early on. Gaze attempted to shoot herself two balls later, but Amy Jones mishandled the ball behind the stumps, causing New Zealand to sigh with relief as they advanced to the powerplay 44 without losing.
For England, three out of four
Sophie Ecclestone closed out the openers by giving up just seven runs in her first two overs. After that, Gaze hit consecutive fours off Freya Kemp, but he skied the final ball of Kemp's opening over to long-on, where Alice Capsey made a confident catch just inside the edge of the boundary.
After failing to convert a start for the third time in four innings, Melie was enraged with herself when she missed an attempt to scoop off Gibson and was bowled the next ball. She threw her head back and thrashed her bat through the air.
Two balls later, Gibson dragged one through from outside off stump and found the outside edge, which clattered against the stumps, causing Izzy Sharp to fall. Gibson was now at 2 for 14 from two overs, while New Zealand was at 70 for 3 from 70 without loss.
A cameo by Devine
Devine's special was needed for New Zealand's predicament, and she delivered it to a certain extent in her usual explosive manner. Devine was on 27 off 10 balls when she hit three enormous leg-side sixes in as many balls as she faced. She also established a strong partnership with Brooke Halliday, which they eventually expanded to 54 in 29 deliveries. The White Ferns were back on track at 124 for 3 thanks to their efforts, but it was undone once more.
Dean's direction
Charlie Dean, England's acting captain, delivered a spectacular direct hit to end Devine-Halliday's union. England had been astute in the field. Dean swooped just inside the ring and shot the ball to the non-striker's end after Halliday threw a Lauren Bell delivery into the off-side, splattering the stumps with Halliday well short of her ground.
Two balls later, Devine was hit on the pads while trying to slog to Bell. Ball-tracking revealed she was plump while she reviewed. After having a small contribution down the order, that propelled Bates to the crease. Before being run out on the final delivery of the innings, Bates, who was only playing in her third game of the competition, added 19 off 13 balls.
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