England Women defeated New Zealand by nine wickets 27 June 2026. The match took place at the Oval as New Zealand finished the group stages of the Women’s T20 World Cup undefeated. This dominant victory officially eliminated the defending champions, New Zealand, from the tournament.
Consequently, the West Indies have now secured their place in the semi-finals alongside England from Group B. England successfully chased a target of 164 with 16 balls to spare, powered by a brilliant unbeaten partnership between Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Sophia Dunkley.
Danni Wyatt-Hodge Leads England to Victory
Danni Wyatt-Hodge delivered a masterclass in batting to guide the hosts to their fifth consecutive win. She scored a magnificent 89 not out from just 53 deliveries. She hit 15 fours and a massive six in her innings. She consistently punished the New Zealand bowlers for short deliveries.
Sophia Dunkley provided excellent support at the other end. She finished on 49 not out from 38 balls. Together, the pair shared an unbroken stand of 128 runs for the second wicket. This partnership effectively took the game away from New Zealand after England lost opener Amy Jones early for 17 runs.
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New Zealand’s Title Defence Ends in Disappointment
New Zealand entered the match knowing a win would send them into the semi-finals. They received a lifeline earlier in the day when Ireland pulled off a historic upset against the West Indies. This result put New Zealand’s fate back in their own hands. However, the White Ferns could not overcome a disciplined England side.
The defending champions chose to bat first and started strongly. They reached 70 runs without losing a wicket during the first ten overs. Suddenly, the momentum shifted as England took three wickets in just four balls without conceding a single run. Isabella Gaze was caught for 28, followed immediately by Amelia Kerr, who was bowled for 42. Izzy Sharp then fell for a duck two balls later.
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Sophie Devine’s Late Heroics
Captain Sophie Devine started the New Zealand innings with a brutal cameo. She scored 30 runs in just 14 balls including three sixes. Her aggressive hitting helped New Zealand reach a total of 163-6 from their 20 overs. This total represented the joint-highest run chase ever required in a Women’s T20 World Cup.
Despite Devine’s efforts, New Zealand struggled to maintain pressure with the ball. The bowlers offered too many short and wide deliveries to Wyatt-Hodge and Dunkley. Additionally, a missed stumping chance when Wyatt-Hodge was on 13 proved very costly.
West Indies Qualify for the Semi-Finals
The result of this match had major implications for the rest of Group B. Because England defeated New Zealand, the West Indies officially qualified for the semi-finals. The West Indies finished in second place in the group standings. Meanwhile, England finished at the top of Group B with a perfect record of five wins from five matches.
England will now return to The Oval next week for their semi-final match. They are likely to face either India or South Africa, depending on the results of the final Group A matches. Head coach Charlotte Edwards stated that the team is entering the knockout stages with more confidence and belief than ever before.
READ MORE: Hayley Matthews, Stafanie Taylor Guide West Indies to Third Straight T20 World Cup Win
A Record-Breaking Crowd at The Oval
The match on Saturday set a significant milestone for women’s cricket. A total of 21,018 fans attended the game at The Oval. This figure is a new record attendance for a group-stage match in the Women’s T20 World Cup. The atmosphere remained electric throughout the evening, even during a brief 20-minute rain delay.
Tournament organisers noted the attendance of many young girls and teenagers in the crowd. This indicates the growth in popularity of the women’s game in England.
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