Kate Cross grabbed her opportunity with both hands as her maiden one-day international five-wicket haul set up England women’s nine-wicket victory over New Zealand at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln.
Included in Charlotte Edwards’ side following an injury to Anya Shrubsole, the Lancastrian responded in style with figures of 5-24 from 10 overs helping dismiss the White Ferns for 168.
Edwards and Sarah Taylor then led the tourists home inside 33 overs with an unbroken second-wicket stand of 158.
The triumph, England’s second in a row following their Twenty20 series-clinching win earlier this week, means the five-match ODI rubber is all square heading into the final game on Friday night.
Cross told ecb.co.uk: “I knew going into it that there was an injury doubt with Anya and I knew that I would be hopefully opening the bowling.
“I just wanted to make a bit of an impression and I am just really pleased that I managed to help the team to a win, especially when the games have been going us-them us-them.
“We have got two wins consecutively now so we have got a good feeling in the changing room.
“I really enjoyed it, especially after I didn’t start very well in the Twenty20 that I played.
“I just knew that if I could get the first ball on the money then, hopefully, I would be able to put some pressure on their opening batters, which was a big game plan of ours to put pressure on Bates and Priest.”
Cross was assisted by some impressive fielding from Jenny Gunn, whose first of four catches in the innings was secured when she plucked the ball out of the air at mid-off to remove the dangerous Rachel Priest.
Cross added: “Thankfully Jenny Gunn has got a great pair of hands and took a fantastic catch for me at mid-off to get things going.”
Congratulations to @katecross16 for her five wickets and player of the match award today! Super stuff! #Engwomen pic.twitter.com/lI98yqyFBO
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) February 26, 2015
Wicketkeeper-batter Taylor also told ecb.co.uk: “We were switched on. Some of the catches from Jenny Gunn were just phenomenal. We pride ourselves on our fielding, we haven’t probably been at our best recently, but that topped it today.”
It was not just Cross who starred with the ball as fellow youngster Rebecca Grundy, fit again following a knock, took 3-36
Cross praised the spinner, adding: “We went wicket for wicket so I was hoping we might both get a five-fer at the same time.
“I’m really pleased for Becky because she has been out with an injury for the last couple of weeks and I know how frustrated she has been.
“I always know that she comes in and makes an impact on the game. I’m really pleased that she took some wickets as well.”
She bowls as well as she dances... @katecross16 before play today! #EngWomen https://t.co/41tmQ2OLjS
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) February 26, 2015
Despite the early loss of Heather Knight, Edwards and Taylor struck an unbeaten 64 and 89 not out respectively to lead England to victory inside 33 overs.
Taylor said: “They bowled well at us, we expected them to because they are international bowlers. We just stuck in there, tried to put the bad balls away and build that partnership that we always talk about.
“That is what we haven’t done in previous games so we got that partnership in there and Charlotte said to me ‘go and enjoy yourself’.
“We love batting with each other. She played some ridiculous shots so it was nice to be at the non-striker’s end and watch that.
“She is so calm and collected and is a good influence when you are not batting well and going through phases where you are not scoring. I guess (it was) just a good partnership all round.”