Cricket: White Ferns win final warmup

Sara McGlashan's 88 was the top-score for the White Ferns. Photo / Getty Images

The New Zealand women's cricket side have ended their World Cup preparations on the right note following a 13-run victory over world champions England in their final warmup game in Mumbai.

New Zealand, who were thrashed by India by eight wickets in their first warmup game yesterday, posted 223 from their 50 overs and then bowled out England for 210 in the 49th over.

White Ferns captain Suzie Bates said today's victory gives the side some much needed momentum ahead of Friday night's (NZT) opening pool B match against South Africa.

"To come out today and improve and beat England, a very strong side, was really impressive and puts us in a good place heading into the first World Cup game,'' she said.

"If we'd had two loses going into the World Cup we probably would have been a bit more nervous than we needed to but with that momentum, batters scoring some runs and our bowlers executing, we're really confident going into our pool games.''

Sara McGlashan showed she is in good form and struck 88 from 90 balls on top of the half century she scored against India yesterday. McGlashan helped revive the New Zealand innings when they were 117 for 5 and put on 92 runs with Nicola Browne (40).

Opener Lucy Doolan set the tone with 57 and England bowler Danielle Hazell picked apart the New Zealand lower order to finish with 5-41.

Suzie Bates (2-26) and Rachel Candy (2-30) were the pick of the New Zealand bowlers. A 48-run eighth-wicket stand between Jenny Gunn (35) and Tammy Beaumont (22) threatened for a while, but New Zealand removed the last three wickets quickly to complete the win.

In a change to the original World Cup schedule, the White Ferns will now play all of their pool matches in Cuttack rather than Mumbai.

A series of non-violent demonstrations around Pakistan's involvement in the tournament, mainly in Mumbai, has seen the ICC and BCCI take the precautionary measure of shifting all Group B fixtures, plus some super-six and playoff matches, to Cuttack on the east coast of India.

If they advance from the group stages, the White Ferns will play all of their super-six matches in Mumbai.

- nzherald.co.nz