Monday 2 July 2018 07:28, UK
Former captain Charlotte Edwards says she was "overwhelmed" by how clinical England Women were during the T20I Tri-Series.
The World Cup winners cruised to a seven-wicket win over New Zealand in the final at Chelmsford, having restricted the visitors to a below-par 137-9 on the pacy outfield.
It was the hosts' third win over their opponents during the Tri-Series, after beating them by 54 runs and seven wickets respectively in their two group matches.
Edwards was impressed by England's ability not to panic after New Zealand had raced to 54-0 off five overs before being pegged back.
"England will be delighted because they would have seen New Zealand as a big threat coming into this Tri-Series," she said on Sky Sports Cricket.
"I have been overwhelmed by how easily they have beaten them in the three games they have played. They have been so clinical and professional and just got better and better.
"The most impressive thing for me about England today was that they didn't panic after New Zealand got off to a great start."
Katherine Brunt took two wickets in three balls to dismiss the dangerous Sophie Devine (31) and Katey Martin (2) before teenage spinner Sophie Ecclestone bowled New Zealand captain Suzie Bates (31), leaving the White Ferns' middle order exposed.
Out of NZ's remaining players, only Amy Satterthwaite (19) and Amelia Kerr (12 not out) managed double figures as England's five bowlers - including seamers Anya Shrubsole and Katie George and spinner Dani Hazell - shared the wickets.
Edwards believes, on current form, New Zealand's middle order must offer more support to Bates and Divine if they are to post imposing totals.
"The sixth over changed the game," she said. "Devine got out and Bates was under pressure to bat through.
"The brilliant ball from Ecclestone got Bates and arguably that wicket meant New Zealand were never going to get the score they needed.
"Bates and Devine set the platform and got them off to a good start and it's fine that they both got out because that's the way they play but the middle order just fell away.
"You needed 170 on that wicket to put England under any pressure but they just couldn't possibly do that with their middle order and they need to go away and do some serious thinking."
Former England bowler Ebony Rainford-Brent echoed Edwards' concerns over New Zealand's middle order, adding the away side need to make changes to their batting line-up before the World T20 tournament in the Caribbean this November.
"New Zealand have got some serious problems," she said on Sky Sports Cricket. "They have the experience of Bates and Devine but the depth is struggling.
"They haven't got the ability to put runs on the board once those two keys wickets go.
"New Zealand are going to have to reshuffle their order and find a way to generate runs from other batters so that they can be competitive.
"They have got some of the best strikers in the world but they can't back that up as they go down the order and they need to look at a couple of options ahead of the World T20.
"New Zealand will be frustrated because they would have wanted to see how far they could push themselves against this side and they haven't looked anywhere near England."
