Picture Credit: Twitter
The ongoing ICC Women's World Cup has been one great multi-nation tournament so far. More matches have gone down to the wire than otherwise and the skill on display has also been of the highest standards in the competition. Another such game was played between England and New Zealand on Sunday.
During the match, England's Heather Knight produced a splendid piece of fielding that is set to be one of the highlights of the tournament. It was Lea Tahuhu who had to depart, thanks to the sensational catch taken by the English skipper at the Eden Park in Auckland. Knight, in the most literal sense, flew to her right and completed the catch by one hand. The video of her incredible effort has gone viral on the internet.
Check it out here:
In a match that was a must-win one for either team, the hosts succumbed to a narrow 1-wicket defeat. Defending 203, the White Ferns at one stage looked out of the game until they triggered a lower-order collapse to see them get reduced from 176/5 to 196/9. Eventually, though Charlie Dean and Anya Shrubsole got England over the line.
It was a heart-breaking defeat for the Kiwis who are virtually out of the competition, although they remain mathematically alive. The home side found a way to get back into the match despite losing their captain Sophie Devine as well as bowler Tahuhu who perhaps could have been a good option when the English lower order was exposed with still some work to be done.
England Women will next be up against Pakistan Women on March 24. In contrast, New Zealand will play Pakistan on March 26 in what is their final match of the group stage. A win in their final game may not be enough for New Zealand to proceed to the next round.