Cricket: White Ferns outshone at Derby

A fighting captain's knock by Aimee Watkins was not enough as New Zealand suffered a six-wicket loss to England in the third women's one-day cricket international at Derby today.

Watkins struck 68 off 65 balls batting at No 7 as the White Ferns tallied 220 for nine in their 50 overs.

They could not defend the total, though, as England reached their target for the loss of four wickets with eight balls to spare to grab a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

A century stand for the first wicket by Sarah Taylor and Heather Knight set England on the path towards victory, their 108-run partnership finally being broken when allrounder Watkins accounted for Knight for 42.

Sarah Taylor topscored for the English with 62 while Lydia Greenway and allrounder Jenny Gunn ensured the right result for their side with an unbroken stand of 83 for the fifth wicket.

Greenway finished unbeaten on 45 while 24-year-old Gunn made 37 not out to complete an outstanding match after she had earlier grabbed career-best figures of five for 31 in her 82nd one-day international.

Gunn's medium-fast bowling caused havoc in the New Zealand top order as the tourists lost five wickets for just 15 runs to tumble from 64 without loss to 79 for five.

It was then that Watkins stood tall, hitting nine fours and sharing handy partnerships with Sophie Devine, who made 23, and Nicola Browne, 14, before being the last wicket to fall off the final ball of the innings.

The fourth match starts tomorrow night (NZT) at Barnsley.

- NZPA