England_women's_cricket_team_in_New_Zealand_in_2020–21
England women's cricket team in New Zealand in 2020–21
International cricket tour
The England women's cricket team played against the New Zealand women's cricket team in February and March 2021.[1][2][3] The series was played during the time that was originally scheduled to be used to host the 2021 Women's Cricket World Cup,[4] after the tournament was postponed by one year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[5] The fixtures for the tour were confirmed in January 2021,[6] with three Women's Twenty20 International (WT20I) and three Women's One Day International (WODI) were played.[7] The WT20I matches took place on the same day as the New Zealand men's fixtures at the same venues.[8]
On 27 February 2021, the second WT20I match was moved from Eden Park in Auckland to the Wellington Regional Stadium after Auckland went into lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[9] The remaining matches were scheduled to be played behind closed doors.[10] However, crowds were allowed to attend the last WT20I after restrictions were relaxed.[11]
On 1 March 2021, the final WT20I was also moved from the Bay Oval in Tauranga to the Wellington Regional Stadium,[12] after logistical complications arose from the movement of the men's T20I matches.[13]
England won the first two WODI matches to take an unassailable lead in the series.[14] New Zealand won the third WODI by seven wickets, ending a losing streak of eleven matches,[15] with England winning the series 2–1.[16] England also won the first two WT20I matches, winning the series with a game to spare.[17] Nat Sciver captained England for the first time in international cricket for the third WT20I match, after Heather Knight was ruled out of the fixture due to an injury.[18] England went on to win the match by 32 runs to take the series 3–0.[19]