Lauren Winfield has urged England women to bounce back in the three-match Twenty20 series with New Zealand following a nine-wicket defeat in the third International Cricket Council Women’s Championship one-day international.
Charlotte Edwards’ side failed to build on Friday’s series-levelling victory as Rachel Priest and Amy Satterthwaite shared a match-winning unbroken second-wicket stand of 156.
Priest and Satterthwaite, with an unbeaten 96 and 76 not out respectively, helped the White Ferns comfortably chase 218 at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui.
A second defeat in three matches hampered England’s pursuit of leaders Australia in the Women’s Championship, although the two points gained from their only triumph moved them up to joint second, five behind their oldest rivals.
Winfield told ecb.co.uk: “It is a bit of an eye opener, they have played some really good cricket and we have got to improve, reflect on today and come back stronger.”
On New Zealand, who were bottom of the championship table heading into these three matches, Winfield added: “I don’t think there was an under-estimation.
“Women’s cricket is now so competitive so we have got to be at our best if we want to win these games. I think we have not been at our best.
“We have shown signs of our best in patches, but we have not been at our best consistently through all the games. It is a real disappointment today.
“Credit to New Zealand, it was a fantastic chase and a fantastic knock by Rachel Priest.”
England looked well placed to post a commanding total at 133 for one in the 33rd over. But Winfield’s dismissal, for 29, started a collapse of eight wickets for 84 runs, meaning the tourists were limited to 217 for nine.
50 for @Heatherknight55 off 88 balls #Engwomen 110-1 @lozwinfield 15* at the other end pic.twitter.com/ibLOOwp5e6
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) February 14, 2015
Losing a cluster of middle-order wickets has been a key theme on this tour so far and Winfield admits it is something England need to address.
The Yorkshirewoman said: “We are losing wickets in clusters, which is always going to cost you because you try to rebuild and then losing more wickets you have to do the rebuilding process again.
“You can never really accelerate and push on. It is something we need to address, look at and look to improve.”
England vice-captain Heather Knight, who top-scored with 79, added: “The middle order is not quite working for us at the moment. But we have definitely got the players in there to turn it around.
“I would back every one of those girls. It was a tough pitch to come in straight away and score. With a new batter you can squeeze and the pressure does show and that leads to wickets.
Hydration station! Meet the #Engwomen behind the drinks today! pic.twitter.com/D7kP2rljG9
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) February 14, 2015
Knight impressed with both bat and ball for England. Having made her highest ODI score at the top of the order, the spinner then opened the bowling and applied the pressure by conceding just 18 runs from 10 wicketless overs.
She said: “I haven’t really contributed with the bat so far as it was nice to do that. In this game I was quite scratchy to start with and I had to fight through.
“The New Zealand bowlers bowled very well. It was probably one of the toughest fifties I have had to get for England.
“I was really disappointed not to be able to carry on through the innings, like Rachel did for them, and get us a little bit of a better score. Opening the bowling for England is something I thought I would never do.
“I was given the job today and I just tried to keep it simple and do what I have been doing in the last few games. Luckily it went okay for me.”