The suspect action of experienced all-rounder Jennifer Gunn was glaringly noticeable as England began their Tri-Nation Twenty20 women’s cricket series campaign with a hard-fought five-wicket victory over New Zealand at Kensington Oval on Wednesday night.
Gunn, a 27-year-old veteran of 112 One-Day Internationals and 67 T20 Internationals, was previously barred from bowling in domestic cricket in Australia in 2009 because her action was deemed illegal.
But she was subsequently cleared following an investigation by the International Cricket Council (ICC) only to be again reported during an ODI series in New Zealand in March, last year.
Based on what I saw during her four overs, a further independent analysis should be undertaken to ascertain whether Gunn has been able to control the high degree of hyper-extension in her action within the ICC’s tolerance threshold of 15 degrees.
That aside, New Zealand, who won the toss and batted, failed to up the ante in the final eight overs after they were 65 for one after 12 overs.
As a result, they were restricted to 109 for six with captain Suzie Bates hitting the top score of 48 off 51 balls with four boundaries.
There were two wickets each for rookie medium pacer Natalie Sciver and seasoned left-arm spinner Holly Colvin for 16 and 22 runs, respectively, while left-arm newball bowler Natasha Farrant, conceded just 12 runs in her four overs.
In response, England triumphed with five balls to spare, scoring 111 for five in 19.1 overs. Captain Charlotte Edwards guided their run-chase with a solid knock of 42 off 56 balls, which contained two fours.
She shared a fifth-wicket partnership of 43 runs with Tammy Beaumont, who was named Player Of The Match for her breezy 29 not out off just 23 balls with two fours and a six.
The slippery Nicola Browne (2-18) and leg-spinner Erin Bermingham (2-23) were the most successful bowlers for the White Ferns.
Bermingham trapped both opener Lauren Winfield (seven) and the experienced wicket-keeper Sarah Taylor (six) leg before wicket with full length deliveries which struck them on the instep.
And after Browne had Lydia Greenway (nine) brilliantly caught by Bates and bowled Sciver (three), to leave the England’s innings at the crossroads at 56 for four in 11 overs, Edwards showed why she is the most prolific player in the T20 format.
She excellently worked the ball around the outfield for ones and twos before she was well caught and bowled by Bates with 11 runs required off the last two overs.
It was the second straight loss for the White Ferns after Monday’s 23-run defeat to the West Indies, who will now clash with England tonight.
Summarized scores: New Zealand 109-6 in 20 overs (S. Bates 48, S. Devine 13, A. Satterthwaite 12, N. Browne 12; N. Sciver 2-16, H. Colvin 2-22). England 111-5 in 19.1 overs (C. Edwards 42, T. Beaumont 29 n.o.; N. Browne 2-18, E. Bermingham 2-23). England won by five wickets.