Sarah Glenn’s four-wicket haul leads England to dominant T20 win over New Zealand

Sarah Glenn’s four-wicket haul aided England to a comfortable seven-wicket thrashing of New Zealand in the fourth T20 of the series at the Oval.

Glenn took four for 19, restricting the Kiwis to a sub-par 103 for eight before England confidently chased down the total in a mere 11.3 overs.

England’s ODI and T20 series against New Zealand, so far, have not provided the thrill and competitive edge that the English summer often offers to fans.

Heading into the match, England had a 3-0 win in the ODI series behind them and had just secured a series win in the T20s, their third victory coming in Canterbury on Thursday.

While there have been moments of significant achievement and plenty of firsts for England stars: Maia Bouchier’s maiden international century and Lauren Bell’s maiden international five-fer to name a couple, the results have been predictable and matches often unexciting.

However, finding the balance between seam and spin among the bowlers has been a productive result for head coach Jon Lewis, despite the dead rubber matches. Leg spinner Glenn, has proved as valuable as the No 1 ranked bowler, Sophie Ecclestone, after taking the opening two wickets for England at the Oval.

“I think it’s just being really consistent with my mindset and resetting every ball,” Glenn said, speaking post-game after being named player of the match.

“It’s working well so far,” she added, a reflection that puts her eight-wicket accumulation across the series, modestly.

New Zealand were 33 without loss at the end of a tentative powerplay, Heather Knight utilising England’s spin and seam options. Continuing with the three-pronged spin attack ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup,

Glenn was first to have an impact, reducing the Kiwis 33 for two. Georgia Plimmer, 20, who had failed to make an innings above one in the T20s, was the 24-year-old’s first victim of the over.

Hand over her mouth out of shock and perhaps slight embarrassment over her poor delivery, Glenn’s second wicket saw the back of Melie Kerr, the soft dismissal representative of New Zealand’s lacklustre innings.

Umpire’s call, however, denied Glenn a third wicket in the over, a feat she executed at Southampton in the first T20. Nonetheless, the Derbyshire spinner early wickets ignited England’s attack, causing the loss of four wickets for just nine runs.

The 24-year-old enabled the breakthrough yet again after a drought of wickets in the middle overs, New Zealand slipping 82 for seven in the 17th over, Glenn finishing with figures of four for 19.

For Glenn, it’s been an eventful week admitting post-match that meeting actress Margot Robbie at Wimbledon was the highlight of her week, quickly backtracking and placing it on a par with her four-fer.

England’s chase was comfortable, scoring more runs in two overs than New Zealand managed in the powerplay. England’s opening pair of Danni Wyatt and Sophia Dunkley steamed like locomotives to the fifty milestone, before irresponsible shots pushed England 73 for three.

With Surrey homegrown talent, Nat Sciver-Brunt, at the crease, England were in safe hands, the all-rounder having officially opened her named gate at the Oval the previous day. Sciver-Brunt struck a boundary to ensure England’s seven wicket victory.

The final and fifth T20 of the series will be played at Lord’s Cricket Ground on Wednesday 17th July.