KEY POINTS:
A solid batting effort and exceptional bowling from Louise Milliken and Sophie Devine enabled New Zealand to tune up for the final today of the quadrangular one-day cricket tournament in India with a competent 27-run win over England yesterday.
New Zealand, already assured of a place in the final, will play arch-rivals Australia at Chennai after the world champions eliminated the hosts with a four-wicket win yesterday.
The New Zealanders posted 267 for nine from their 50 overs, with nine batsmen making double figures - although none reached a half century.
Opener Suzie Bates and Aimee Mason each scored 48 while Sarah Tsukigawa (41) and Sarah McGlashan (30) and reserve wicketkeeper Rowan Milburn (25) helped to maintain a steady scoring clip for the duration of the innings.
Playing purely for pride, England's response ended in the 47th over though not before 102 runs were added for the last two wickets.
In early trouble at 82 for six, Lynsey Askew gave the New Zealand attack a few anxious moments as she slammed a defiant 68 off 71 balls including 11 boundaries and a six before being bowled by Devine.
Isa Guha, batting at No 10, also contributed a bright 26 before she was last out, leg before wicket to Sarah Burke.
Pace bowler Milliken caused the early damage, knocking the top off the English order before finishing with four for 42 from 10 overs.
"It was pleasing to get such figures," she said.
"It hasn't been a successful tournament for me so far. It got away from us in the middle though. But it was good to win, even though not convincingly."
Devine, in her debut tour, took three for 38.
New Zealand and Australia have shared their two previous games in the tournament.
The White Ferns won the opening match by six wickets but Australia struck back with a 49-run win in the second encounter.
- NZPA
