New Zealand women's cricket coach Gary Stead has identified areas needing improvement after England pipped his side by one-wicket in the first one-day cricket international at Taunton today.
England captain Charlotte Edwards produced a matchwinning 70 off 81 balls to help her team pass the White Ferns' 231 for eight with three balls to spare, giving them the early initiative in the five-match series.
The teams return to the same ground for the second match starting tomorrow night (NZT) with Stead clear about what his players had to put right.
"A key point of the match was the batting power play where they took 56 off the five overs towards the end of their innings," Stead said.
"Our fielding needs to improve considerably but we fought hard on a good batting wicket and a lightning outfield and if all the matches are going to be this close we will be in for a really great series."
The White Ferns posted a competitive total thanks to half-centuries from opener Maria Fahey and allrounder Sophie Devine.
Fahey anchored the innings with her 61 occupying 106 balls while Devine was much more fluent in making a neat 50 off 65 balls, with four fours and two sixes.
Lucy Doolan and Rachel Priest ensured the tail wagged as they put on an unbroken stand of 28 for the ninth wicket, with Doolan unbeaten on 23 off as many balls and Priest making 15 not out off 11.
"We didn't have a significant partnership in our innings and we never grabbed the match by the scruff of the neck," Stead said.
"Maria Fahey anchored the innings well and Sophie Devine batted nicely for her 50 but we were about 30 runs short."
Edwards' classy knock took her side to the brink of victory and they were cruising at 208 for five before the White Ferns fought back to take three wickets for 19 runs, including the scalp of Edwards.
Nicola Browne as the standout bowler for the New Zealanders in taking three for 31, including the late wickets of Danielle Hazell and Holly Colvin, while spinner Lucy Doolan snared three for 41.
