After a dominant 3-0 sweep in the One-Day series, England A Women will look to continue their momentum and dominance as they face New Zealand A Women in the first T20 series on July 3. The white-ball action moves from the 50-over format to the shortest version of the game, with both sides eager to test their bench strength and rising stars.
The three-match One Day series showcased England A’s depth and form across departments. They outclassed New Zealand A in all three games with a mix of clinical bowling and consistent batting. The likes of Seren Smale, Jodi Grewcock, Mahika Gaur and Freya Kemp impressed with the bat and ball while choking the Kiwis with disciplined spells.
As the T20 leg begins, both sides will look to recalibrate their approaches. T20s demand more urgency, innovative shot-making, and sharp fielding, areas where New Zealand A would hope to challenge England’s rhythm and make a comeback.
Squads:
England A Women’s Cricket Team
Hannah Baker, Tilly Corteen-Coleman, Mahika Gaur, Bess Heath, Emma Jones, Ryana MacDonald-Gay, Ella McCaughan, Charis Pavely, Davina Perrin, Grace Potts, Grace Scrivens, Seren Smale, Alexa Stonehouse
New Zealand A Women’s Cricket Team
Emma Black, Anna Browning, Flora Devonshire, Izzy Gaze, Amie Hucker, Bree Illing, Polly Inglis, Bella James, Emma McLeod, Nensi Patel, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Izzy Sharp, Jess Watkin
Players to watch out:
Seren Smale
In the third One Dayer, wicketkeeper and opener Seren Smale stood tall with a composed knock of 62, showcasing patience and precision at the top of the order. Her innings provided much-needed stability to the England A batting lineup, underlining her growing stature as a dependable top-order batter. Smale has been steadily making a name for herself in domestic and developmental cricket.
Mahika Gaur
Young pace sensation Mahika Gaur delivered a match-defining spell in the third one dayer, scalping 5 wickets in just 8.5 overs, dismantling the New Zealand A middle and lower order with her lethal swing and bounce. Mahika has represented the United Arab Emirates and England in 21 T20 Internationals innings so far, collecting 11 wickets, with her best figures being 3/21.
Emma McLeod
Opening batter Emma McLeod impressed with a fluent 43 in the second one-dayer, playing some elegant shots and displaying good temperament against quality bowling. With three innings under her belt in this A tour, McLeod has compiled 59 runs, hinting at her potential. A technically sound and composed presence at the crease, she is quickly becoming one of New Zealand’s most exciting young batters.
Bree Illing
Among the few positives for New Zealand A in the One Dayers was Bree Illing, who made an impact with the ball. She picked up an impressive 4 wickets in one of the one dayer against England A, showcasing her control and ability to extract movement off the pitch. In T20 International cricket, she has claimed 2 wickets in 2, making her one of New Zealand A’s most promising performers.
Pitch:
County Ground in Chelmsford is regarded as a bowling-friendly surface in white-ball cricket, with a good amount of swing and bounce for seam bowlers. While some domestic 50-over matches have seen high scores, the average first innings score in international ODIs at this ground is relatively low.
Weather:
The temperature will hover around 24°C with partly cloudy skies. An average humidity of 38% is expected, with negligible chances of rain, promising a complete game of cricket.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Bess Heath, Izzy Gaze, Seren Smale, Emma McLeod, Georgia Plimmer, Grace Scrivens, Ryana MacDonald-Gay, Jess Watkin, Mahika Gaur, Bree Illing, Molly Penfold
Match Details:
Date – July 3, 2025
Time – 7:00 PM IST
Venue – County Ground, Chelmsford
Broadcast – T.B.C.
