Amy Jones steers England into the semifinals as Sophie Devine bids adieu to international cricket

England ensured they will enter the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 semi-finals on a winning note after beating New Zealand by eight wickets and leapfrogging their last four opponents South Africa into second in the group stage standings.

Linsey Smith took three wickets as New Zealand were dismissed for 168 in Visakhapatnam, Georgia Plimmer top-scoring with 43 and Sophie Devine contributing 23 in her final ODI.

England reached their target with 20.4 overs to spare, Amy Jones leading the way with an unbeaten 86 while Tammy Beaumont contributed 40.

The White Ferns elected to bat upon winning the toss and England suffered an early blow when Sophie Ecclestone was led from the field nursing her shoulder after picking up a knock while diving for a ball on the boundary.

The first wicket arrived when Emma Lamb, on as a substitute fielder in Ecclestone’s absence, held a simple catch after Suzie Bates picked her out from a Smith full toss.

Plimmer and Amelia Kerr added 68 for the second wicket before both were dismissed in successive deliveries, Kerr slogging Alice Capsey to Charlie Dean at long-on before Dean trapped Plimmer in front with the first ball of the next over.

Ecclestone returned to the action to remove Brooke Halliday, caught in the deep by Sophia Dunkley, before swiftly leaving the field once more as her shoulder continued to prove troublesome.

There was no let-up from England’s bowlers, however, with Maddy Green chipping a return catch to Capsey – who then dropped a similar chance with her very next ball to Isabella Gaze – to leave New Zealand 128 for five.

Devine was key to a competitive score but she nicked Nat Sciver-Brunt behind, a review picking up a thin inside edge, precipitating a collapse which saw the White Ferns lose their last five wickets for just 13 as the innings was brought to a close in the 39th over.

Amy Jones survived an lbw review in the first over of the run chase and England quickly settled thereafter, Beaumont striking four boundaries from one Jess Kerr over to set them on their way.

Beaumont progressed to 40 before falling lbw to Lea Tahuhu with the score on 75 but Heather Knight joined Jones to take England into three figures.

Knight successfully overturned an lbw decision when she was wrapped on the pads by Amelia Kerr and made the most of her reprieve by lofting the 100th six of the tournament shortly afterwards.

Jones followed suit to bring up her half-century in style, clearing the ropes off Bates, before three consecutive boundaries off Rosemary Mair brought the runs required below 20.

There was still time for Devine to have an impact in her swansong, the veteran trapping Knight in front on 33, but fittingly it was Jones who wrapped it up with a boundary as England got home in comfortable style.

Devine, off whom the winning runs were hit, left the field through a guard of honour to mark the end of one of the great ODI careers.

Scores in brief

England v New Zealand- Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam

New Zealand 168 in 38.2 overs (Georgia Plimmer 43, Amelia Kerr 35; Linsey Smith 3/30, Nat Sciver-Brunt 2/31)

England 172/2 in 29.2 overs (Amy Jones 86 not out, Tammy Beaumont 40; Lea Tahuhu 1/9; Sophie Devine 1/20)

Result: England won by eight wickets

Amy Jones - Photo by Prakash Singh/Getty Images