Perfect England ease to semi-finals where tougher challenges lie

England chased down a record total of 164 at the Oval to beat New Zealand and finish the World Cup group stage with a perfect record.

The fact that there was even something to play for was a minor miracle. New Zealand’s warm-up had been interrupted by an impromptu gathering to watch the end of West Indies’ match against Ireland. Ireland had never previously won a match at a Women’s T20 World Cup.

Their meeting with the West Indies was their 22nd attempt. New Zealand were no doubt prepared to be dumped out of the tournament before they had even faced a ball. But a heroic effort from Orla Prendergast, who scored 63, saw them chase down a target of 129.

Suddenly, New Zealand were given a lifeline which was as simple as it was difficult - beat England at the Oval in front of a crowd of 21,018 and make the semi-finals. Lose and begin the long flight home. The result also handily meant that England, already confirmed semi-finalists after their victory over the West Indies at Lord’s on Wednesday, were guaranteed to finish top of the group.

New Zealand came into this tournament as somewhat surprise holders, after they defeated South Africa in Dubai to win the tournament after losing two previous finals, in 2009 and 2010. Defending their title was not something that was necessarily expected of them but nor was what they had actually contrived to do which was something akin to placing the trophy in a boat, setting it on fire and letting it float off down the Thames.

It was not just the opening losses to the West Indies and Sri Lanka that set alarm bells ringing, even though that alone put them on the verge of elimination almost immediately. But even in their games against Ireland and Scotland, they struggled to get wins over the line, beating Ireland by four runs and wobbling early on against Scotland, even if they eventually chased down the 132 required in 18 overs.

It all felt like an inauspicious way to bring down the curtain on the international careers of Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates and Lea Tahuhu, who had all previously announced that this World Cup would be their last. To get an idea of their impact on T20 cricket, a scan of the record books will suffice. Bates has scored the most T20I runs ever; Devine is third on that list.

Meanwhile Lea Tahuhu became the third New Zealand woman to take 100 wickets in T20 internationals during this World Cup, joining current captain Melie Kerr, and yes, of course it would be her, Sophie Devine.

Given all this, the opportunity to somehow put the first four matches of this World Cup behind them and play what was in effect a knockout fixture against England should have been an opportunity too good to be true.

But as Melie Kerr and Izzy Gaze trundled serenely through the powerplay, there was no sense of urgency. They finished their first six overs with 44 runs and England’s blessing to continue batting as slowly as this for as long as they wanted.

Eventually though, three wickets in four balls meant that Sophie Devine was on strike and she was not going to die wondering.

Tasked with accelerating New Zealand’s slow-moving total, she eyed up England captain Charlie Dean, took a skip forward and smacked the ball high into the evening sky, sending it sailing over the boundary. She got down on one knee for the next ball - same result.

Dean could only slightly grimace. Even the miserly Sophie Ecclestone was not spared. Devine hit three sixes in five balls in an attempt to haul New Zealand into their final group-stage match.

It certainly put some impetus into New Zealand’s innings even though she was eventually out lbw by Lauren Bell. By the time the 20 overs were up, New Zealand had set England 164 to win, in what would be a record run chase.

The previous record was achieved by their World Cup winning team on this very ground, against Australia in the 2009 semi-final.

Given the totals that England had put up so far in this tournament, it seemed remarkable that it would look like a difficult task.

Danni Wyatt-Hodge batted like a woman who wanted to be in the pub before the England football match against Panama kicked off. While New Zealand had played the equivalent of five overs of dot balls in their opening 12 overs, England kept boundaries flowing. Not even a short rain delay could upset the rhythm of Dunkley and Wyatt-Hodge once they got going. In the end, they chased down the total with 16 balls to spare.

Head coach Charlotte Edwards would surely be slyly pleased with the situation her team was put in. England have coasted through this group, thanks in part to their own performances but also thanks to the chaotic goings-on beneath them. What could have been a dead rubber became something with real meaning attached to it, and what should have been a competitive total. Even if there was no real pressure on England, they played it with a level of focus as if there was.

The one serious concern for this England group is how little they have been challenged in their opening five matches.

Whoever they play in their semi-final, which will likely be South Africa or India depending on Sunday’s results, will provide a tougher challenge than any they have had so far. Lurking beyond that like the monster under the bed will almost certainly be Australia in a final.

England have faced every hurdle in front of them with a calmness that is unusual for them. All they can do from here is carry on doing that same thing again and again.

Photograph by Dan Istitene/Getty Images