Tammy Beaumont, the leading run‑scorer in the T20 Tri-series, and with three centuries in this summer’s internationals, is hoping to extend her purple patch with another big score as England take on New Zealand on Sunday in the final at Chelmsford.
“I’ve had a few doubts about whether I score quickly enough in T20 before but the century at Taunton has helped me get over that,” the opener said.
England have not only beaten New Zealand in their two previous encounters, but have bowled them out both times, a phenomenal effort in a series dominated by batters.
With eight wickets in the series it is the left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone who has emerged as a crucial part of England’s attack after she took four for 18 on a flat track at Taunton in the first game.
The 19-year-old sustained an ankle injury during Thursday’s game but she was able to return to the field and has been ruled fit to play on Sunday.
England will be relishing the prospect of finishing the series at Chelmsford as they are unbeaten there. “A lot of us walk in and have a smile on our face, remembering previous wins we’ve had there,” says Beaumont.
England: T Beaumont, D Wyatt, S Taylor (wkt), N Sciver, H Knight (c), K Brunt, A Jones, A Shrubsole, S Ecclestone, K George, D Hazell
New Zealand : S Bates (c), S Devine, K Martin (wkt), A Satterthwaite, M Green, J Watkin, A Kerr, A Peterson, L Kasperek, H Jensen, L Tahuhu
New Zealand will be hoping for a better performance from their middle order after their last seven wickets fell for 38 runs at Bristol. Their captain, Suzie Bates, said she was confident her team would put in a better showing in the final. “Everyone in our batting lineup has the ability – we’ve just got to sustain the pressure for longer.”
They are likely to retain the 20-year-old all-rounder Jess Watkin, who came out fighting in her first match of the series hitting 16 off nine balls before dismissing Beaumont and Danni Wyatt cheaply.
The match will be viewed as critical for the World Twenty20 in November, with the teams having been drawn in different groups and likely to meet in the semi-finals.
“That it’s a one-off game that we have to win is really good preparation,” Beaumont says. “If you’ve got a three-match series you don’t have the same must‑win pressure. It’s really important to practice that ahead of a world tournament.”
