Wicketkeeper-batter Amy Jones played a brilliant unbeaten 86 as England comfortably beat New Zealand by eight wickets in their final group match of the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium on Sunday. Englands bowlers performed excellently to bowl New Zealand out for 168 Earlier Englands bowlers performed excellently to bowl New Zealand out for 168. Linsey Smith led the way with 3-30 while captain Nat Sciver-Brunt and Alice Capsey took two wickets each. From a strong start of 89/1 New Zealand collapsed dramatically losing their last nine wickets for just 79 runs. Chasing 169 Amy Jones struck 11 fours and a six to remain unbeaten on 86 off 92 balls Chasing 169 Amy struck 11 fours and a six to remain unbeaten on 86 off 92 balls her highest score in an ODI World Cup. She shared a 75-run opening partnership with Tammy Beaumont helping England reach the target with 124 balls remaining securing second place in the group and a semi-final clash against South Africa in Guwahati on October 29. With rain affecting several matches in the tournament England’s higher finish could be important—they will go straight to the final on November 2 if both the semi-final and reserve day are washed out. For New Zealand captain Sophie Devine could not have a fairytale ending to her ODI career. However she received a warm guard of honour from both teams as she walked off smiling and sharing hugs with teammates and England players marking the conclusion of a distinguished career. How was the case? In the chase Amy started confidently driving Rosemary Mair for four while Beaumont helped with two boundaries off the pacer. Amy particularly targeted Jess Kerr hitting four boundaries in the sixth over. After New Zealand wasted a review Amy hit two more boundaries and completed the fourth fifty of her opening partnership with Tammy in this World Cup. The duo continued rotating the strike with singles and twos until Tammy was dismissed lbw by Lea Tahuhu. Heather Knight then joined Amy and scored her first boundary off the spinner while Amy capitalized on loose deliveries from Rosemary pulling lofting and driving to bring up her fifty in 71 balls including a six over long-on and a series of boundaries. Despite Sophie trapping Heather lbw Amy and Danni Wyatt-Hodge guided England home. What happened earlier? Earlier New Zealand seemed in control at 89/1 with Amelia Kerr and Georgia Plimmer batting steadily. But both were dismissed on consecutive deliveries triggering a collapse that handed control to England. After some early struggles England’s spinners tightened the game following the powerplay. England faced an early scare when Sophie Ecclestone left the field after landing awkwardly while saving a boundary. However they dismissed Suzie cheaply in the sixth over. England’s bowling was inconsistent at the start allowing Georgia and Amelia to put together a 68-run partnership but successive wickets helped England claw back into the match. Amelia was caught at long-on off Alice Capsey Georgia was trapped lbw and Sophie Devine was caught by Amy Jones off Nat Sciver-Brunt for her last ODI dismissal. The tailenders fell quickly with Maddy Green Isabella Gaze Rosemary Jess Kerr and Lea Tahuhu being dismissed through a combination of catches run-outs and lbw decisions. Brief Scores: New Zealand 168 in 38.2 overs (Georgia Plimmer 43 Amelia Kerr 35; Linsey Smith 3-30 Nat Sciver-Brunt 2-31) lost to England 172/2 in 29.2 overs (Amy Jones 86* Tammy Beaumont 40; Lea Tahuhu 1-9 Sophie Devine 1-20) by eight wickets.