England missed out on a series victory over New Zealand as the tourists won a rain-affected third ODI in Cardiff by 17 runs via DLS to level the series at 1-1.
England were put in to bat and reached 77-3 in 17 overs before rain stopped play for two-and-a-half hours at Sophia Gardens.
The players returned to contest a reduced 33-overs-a-side game, with England reaching 181-7 at the end of their innings, Alice Capsey top-scoring with a run-a-ball 45.
New Zealand’s pursuit of a DLS-adjusted 184 for victory looked to have been derailed when Suzie Bates, Melie Kerr and Georgia Plimmer all fell lbw to Lauren Bell (3-29).
But a 57-run partnership between Maddy Green and Brooke Halliday helped the White Ferns rally from 40-3 to edge ahead of the par DLS score 20 overs into their chase.
New Zealand were 141-4, needing 43 off 50 balls, when rain stopped play for a second time. With the weather showing no sign of easing, the inevitable was confirmed and the tourists were awarded victory.
New Zealand level ODI series in Cardiff
England reached 45-1 from the 10-over powerplay before Jodi Grewcock was caught by the diving Izzy Gaze off Rosemary Mair.
The umpires stuck it out as the weather turned and Heather Knight, who had been untroubled, dangled a bat to Breearne Iling and Gaze took a third catch to end her 42-ball 28.
Capsey and Freya Kemp put on 57 after the lengthy rain stoppage before the latter found Mair at long-on and went for 20.
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England lose the wickets of Freya Kemp, Alice Capsey and Dani Gibson in quick succession during their third ODI with New Zealand in Cardiff.
England lost three wickets for four runs as Capsey spooned up a simple catch on 45 – her second-highest ODI score – and Dani Gibson was bowled by Nensi Patel.
But England rallied as Amy Jones (27) and Charlie Dean (16 not out) added 45 for the seventh wicket from 34 balls, the hosts finishing 181-7.
Bell’s new-ball burst put New Zealand on the back foot with Bates, making her 184th and final ODI appearance, the first of three lbw victims.
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Susie Bates is dismissed by Lauren Bell in the third ODI between England and New Zealand.
Bates – dropped from Bell’s previous delivery low at slip by Knight – was quickly followed back to the hutch by Kerr and Plimmer and New Zealand were behind the DLS rate at 40-3.
The rain returned with New Zealand managing to get above the par score again, with Brooke Halliday (42 not out from 54 balls) and Gaze (22 not out from 23 balls) sharing a crucial partnership of 44 to get the job done.
Dean: Not our day today
England captain Charlie Dean, speaking to Sky Sports Cricket:
“Batting first on a day like today it is always difficult to manage situations.
“When you go in and expect to bat 50 overs, then adjusting tempo is pretty hard. It was not our day today.
“You want to take things on in shortened-overs games and try to accelerate but we lost key wickets when we started to do that.”
Kerr delighted with series draw
New Zealand captain Melie Kerr, at the presentation:
“A win today to level the series… any time you win against a quality England side is pleasing.
“At 40-3 on a tricky wicket, we absorbed that pressure, it was brilliant to watch.”
On Suzie Bates, who played her 184th and final ODI for New Zealand: “The cricket Gods looked after us, winning the toss and getting the win.
“We’re the lucky ones to have seen the impact [Suzie Bates] has had on the group, every player growing up looked up to Suzie, she’ll be an incredible loss when she finally steps away.”
T20 World Cup the focus for England and New Zealand
Following the conclusion of the ODI series England and New Zealand now meet in three T20 internationals, starting in Derby on May 20 ahead of further games at Canterbury (May 23) and Hove (May 25).
England will also play three T20 internationals versus India before beginning their home T20 World Cup campaign against Sri Lanka at Edgbaston on Friday June 12.
The hosts will hope to have regular skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt back well before then, with the all-rounder currently sitting out the New Zealand ODIs with a minor calf issue.
England have not won the T20 World Cup since the inaugural edition on home soil in 2009 and were knocked out in the group stage at the last edition, in the UAE in 2024.
New Zealand are the reigning Women’s T20 World Cup champions, claiming a first title two years ago with a 32-run victory over South Africa in the Dubai final.
England vs New Zealand series results/fixtures
First ODI (Durham) – England won by one wicketSecond ODI (Northampton) – Abandoned Third ODI (Cardiff) – New Zealand won by 17 runs (DLS)First T20 (Wednesday May 20) – The Central Co-op County Ground, Derby (6.30pm)Second T20 (Saturday May 23) – The Spitfire Ground, Canterbury (2.30pm)Third T20 (Monday May 25) – The 1st Central County Ground, Hove (2.30pm)
Watch England’s first T20 international against New Zealand, in Derby, live on Sky Sports Cricket from 6pm on Wednesday (6.30pm first ball). Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with NOW.
