Beaumont, seamers deliver England women 20-run win

Tammy Beaumont's half-century was backed up by effective bowling from Jenny Gunn and Heather Knight as England won its second consecutive warm-up match against New Zealand, in Chennai.

Sophie Devine hit three sixes in her knock of 31 off 27 balls.

A half-century from Tammy Beaumont and tight bowling from the England women saw the side register its second win in back-to-back warm-up matches over New Zealand. After winning the first warm-up against the same side by five wickets, England followed up its Friday night performance with a 20 runs victory at M. A. Chidambaram Stadium here today.

England won the toss and elected to bat, setting up a target of 127. Despite Tammy’s spirited 56 from 52 balls, the White Ferns restricted the English side, bowling it out with four balls left in its innings. A four-wicket haul from offspinner Leigh Kasperek and three wickets from Felicity Leydon-Davis did most of the damage as England was bowled out in the final over.

However, England came back strongly. Apart from Sophie Devine’s 31, no one from the New Zealand side looked promising enough to hold the innings together. Seamers Jenny Gunn and Heather Knight were the most productive bowlers for England; Gunn took four wickets and Knight took three.

With two wins in its kitty, England will face South Africa next on March 14 at the same venue.