Group B reached an exciting conclusion on Saturday as England maintained their unbeaten run at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 to knock New Zealand out of contention.
New Zealand's title defence at the Women's T20 World Cup ended with a nine-wicket defeat to England at The Oval.
It was another dominant display by the hosts, who restricted the White Ferns to 163-6 and then chased down the target in 17.2 overs.
Danni Wyatt-Hodge now has the most runs in a single edition of a Women's #T20WorldCup!
— Cricinfo (@cricinfo) June 27, 2026
She breaks Beth Mooney's record of 259 runs at the 2020 edition in Australia 💪 pic.twitter.com/aKEg640VEW
Danni Wyatt-Hodge led England's charge with an unbeaten 89, while Sophia Dunkley supported with 49 not out as the team cantered to 164-1.
Though they had already qualified for the semifinals, England maintained the intensity to enter the knockouts unbeaten.
For New Zealand, it was a disappointing end after they had clawed back after losing the first two matches to stay in semifinal contention with wins over Ireland and Scotland.
After electing to bat first, Amelia Kerr (42) and Isabella Gaze (28) laid the foundation with a 70-run opening stand.
Just when the White Ferns were looking to accelerate they lost three wickets in a heap. While Freya Kemp provided the breakthrough as she had Gaze hole out in the deep, Danielle Gibson clean bowled Melie and Izzy Sharp. Four balls, three wickets, zero runs as New Zealand slipped to 70/3.
The White Ferns answered fire with fire as Sophie Devine (30 off 14b) and Brooke Halliday added a fourth-wicket partnership of 54 in just 29 balls. One of the stalwarts of the game, Devine brought the fireworks with three big sixes and a four.
The momentum swung back England's way as New Zealand once again lost two wickets in a hurry. England's stand-in skipper broke the burgeoning partnership as she nailed a direct hit to dismiss Halliday. In the next over, Lauren Bell trapped Devine leg before wicket.
Suzie Bates then picked up the baton, using innovative strokes to break free against England. Her 37-run partnership, in 26 balls, with Maddy Green helped the defending champions post a competitive 163/6.
For England, Gibson claimed 2/30 but Bell was the pick of the bowlers with an economical 1/24 in four overs. In the final over, she mixed her pace and length well to concede only five runs.
In sharp contrast to New Zealand's wild ride with the bat, England were fluent and composed. Wyatt-Hodge and Amy Jones set the tone with a 36-run opening partnership in quick time.
Nensi Patel provided the breakthrough as she dismissed Jones in the fourth over and the offspinner was the only one to go under eight runs an over as Wyatt-Hodge and Dunkley took control of the chase.
They built a 128-run partnership, in 80 balls, to power through. While Wyatt-Hodge and Dunkley found the boundaries easily enough, they also never let the pressure up as they picked the gaps and ran hard between the wickets.
Having scored an unbeaten century in the tournament opener, Wyatt-Hodge delivered another big score to round off England's group phase.
While she struck 15 fours and a six, Dunkley carved nine fours for an unbeaten 49 off 38 balls.
𝐄𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐫𝐚 🥹
— ICC (@ICC) June 27, 2026
Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates and Lea Tahuhu together walk off the pitch one final time 🫡
Witness history from the stands at the #T20WorldCup, tickets here ➡️ https://t.co/8kyuNOXKdL pic.twitter.com/uKOvhpUPM9