Rain twice forced the abandonment of England’s ODI chase against New Zealand at Sophia Gardens on Friday, ending the series level at 1-1 after the White Ferns won by 17 runs via the Duckworth-Lewis system. The match, originally scheduled for 50 overs, was reduced to 33 overs per side after a two-and-a-half-hour delay, with England finishing on 181-7. New Zealand’s revised target of 184 was within reach when the weather intervened again, forcing the umpires to call an end to the contest with the hosts 141-4 in 20 overs.

England, put in to bat, started strongly before the first rain delay arrived at 77-3 in 17 overs. Alice Capsey top-scored with a run-a-ball 45 as the hosts pushed to 181-7, but New Zealand’s reply nearly unraveled after Lauren Bell removed three key batters lbw in quick succession. Suzie Bates, Melie Kerr and Georgia Plimmer all fell to Bell’s 3-29, leaving the White Ferns at 40-3. A 57-run partnership between Maddy Green and Brooke Halliday steadied the ship, but the second rain delay at 141-4 sealed New Zealand’s victory.

England’s late fightback falls short

England’s innings saw brief resistance from Amy Jones and Charlie Dean, who added 45 for the seventh wicket in 34 balls. Dean finished unbeaten on 16, while Jones contributed 27, but the damage was done by New Zealand’s disciplined bowling. Heather Knight, England’s captain, managed just 28 off 42 balls before being caught by Izzy Gaze off Rosemary Mair, who finished with 2-25. Knight’s dismissal sparked a collapse, with Capsey’s 45 ending in a simple catch to Patel.

New Zealand’s win came despite a shaky start, but Green’s 51 and Halliday’s 33 ensured they stayed in the hunt. The series, now deadlocked, shifts focus to the T20I leg as both teams prepare for the T20 World Cup in England, starting June 12. The first T20I between the sides is scheduled for Sunday at Sophia Gardens, with Sky Sports Cricket providing live coverage.

The match highlighted the challenges of limited-overs cricket in unpredictable weather, particularly in the UK. Both teams will hope for clearer skies as they finalize preparations for the global tournament, where conditions could play a decisive role. England, ranked fourth in the T20I rankings, will be eager to bounce back after their ODI setback, while New Zealand aim to carry momentum into the shorter format.

The series’ conclusion marks a rare bright spot for New Zealand, who had struggled in recent limited-overs campaigns. Their adaptability in the face of rain delays contrasted with England’s inability to capitalize on a strong start, setting up a tightly contested T20I series ahead of the World Cup.

What You Need to Know

  • Source: Sky Sports
  • Published: May 16, 2026 at 19:16 UTC
  • Category: Sports
  • Topics: #sky-sports · #football · #premier-league · #startups · #funding · #england

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Curated by GlobalBR News · May 16, 2026

🇧🇷 Resumo em Português

A emocionante série de ODI entre Inglaterra e Nova Zelândia terminou empatada após duas partidas prejudicadas pela chuva no Sophia Gardens, em Cardiff, deixando torcedores de ambos os lados frustrados e ansiosos pelo início da disputa de T20Is.

O adiamento das duas partidas de ODI — originalmente programadas para serem disputadas — forçou as equipes a dividirem os pontos e adiarem a definição do vencedor da série. Com o clima instável prejudicando o ritmo do jogo, o equilíbrio dos resultados refletiu não apenas a força das equipes, mas também a imprevisibilidade do esporte quando o tempo não colabora. Para o Brasil, onde o críquete ainda busca espaço, a situação reforça os desafios logísticos que o esporte enfrenta globalmente, especialmente em países com condições climáticas adversas. Além disso, a transição para o formato T20I acende a expectativa por jogos mais dinâmicos e menos suscetíveis às interrupções, mantendo os fãs de plantão.

Agora, a atenção se volta para a série de T20Is, que promete ser um novo capítulo repleto de reviravoltas, com ambos os times buscando deixar o mau tempo para trás e mostrar seu melhor no formato mais curto e intenso.