New Zealand vs England Women, NZWENGW_2024, Today Match Prediction 01 April 2024

NZW vs ENGW Match Prediction & Analysis

New Zealand Women have always been in the top tier of women's cricket sides but over the last decade they have struggled to keep apace with the likes of Australia Women, India Women and England Women. As a result, even as the away side, it was no surprise to see England Women dominate the WT20I series and most pundits expect them to be too strong once again across these WODIs.

These games form part of the ICC Women's Championship 2022/23 - 25 with the two teams currently neck and neck in the table. New Zealand Women are in fourth with 16 points from 15 games with England one point behind them from three fewer matches.

So as ever, there is plenty to play for in this opening WODI in Wellington.

RECENT PERFORMANCE

NZW

L W

NZW

251/8 in 50.0 5.02

NZ-W vs PAK-W 2023

Pakistan beat New Zealand by 3 runs 18 Dec 2023

PAKW

8/2 in 0.5 9.64

NZW

221/9 in 48.5 4.53

NZ-W vs PAK-W 2023

New Zealand Women won by 1 wkt 15 Dec 2023

PAKW

220/10 in 50.0 4.4

ENGW

HEAD TO HEAD

TEAMS PREVIEW

New Zealand Preview

Georgia Plimmer is the only new face for New Zealand Women in their squad for this game from the group who were selected ahead of the WT20I series. Eden Carson, who took part in the first three WT20Is and Leigh Kasperek who played in the final two WT20Is are not available for this series.

As ever, New Zealand will be looking to their top all-round players - Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates and skipper Amelia Kerr - to contribute with both bat and ball. A quad injury ruled Devine out of the final WT20I and she is said to be "touch and go" over whether she will be fit for this opening match of this series.

All in all, it looks like a tough clash for the hosts.

New Zealand Predicted Playing XI:

Suzie Bates, Bernadine Bezuidenhout (wk), Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Fran Jonas, Amelia Kerr (c), Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Georgia Plimmer, Lea Tahuhu

New Zealand Actual Playing XI:

Suzie Bates, Bernadine Bezuidenhout, Amelia Kerr, Georgia Plimmer, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Isabella Gaze, Jess Kerr, Lea Tahuhu, Fran Jonas, Hannah Rowe

England Women Preview

Confidence will be high throughout the England Women team ahead of this match after their performances in the WT20I series. Not just due to the 4-1 victory, but due to the depth of quality seen across the games with the WPL players unavailable for the first three games.

England Women have match-winners across their side with their batting line-up particularly strong and any of their top six could play an innings to take the game away from New Zealand Women.

With the ball, we expect the pace of Lauren Filer and the accuracy of spinner Sophie Ecclestone to be key.

England Women Predicted Playing XI:

Tammy Beaumont, Alice Capsey, Heather Knight (c), Danni Wyatt, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Amy Jones (wk), Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Kate Cross, Lauren Bell

England Women Actual Playing XI:

Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Danielle Wyatt, Heather Knight, Natalie Sciver, Tammy Beaumont, Amy Jones, Lauren Bell, Kate Cross, Charlie Dean, Sophie Ecclestone

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

The forecast is for cloudy and humid conditions from start to finish in Wellington on Sunday. The temperature will peak at 16 degrees but the good news for the players and spectators alike is that no rain will interrupt any of the game.

NZW vs ENGW Pitch Report

We can expect plenty of turn on this pitch, something which Nathan Lyon was able to exploit in the Test Match at the end of February and beginning of March. Whichever side bats first will be looking to make a total of 260+ to be competitive in this game.

Toss: To Bowl

Four of the last six WODIs at Basin Reserve have been won by the team chasing so we predict that both captains will walk out to the middle for the toss looking to field first.