Capsey 45 anchors England as NZ are set 184 in rain-reduced contest

Innings break England 181 for 7 (Capsey 45, Illing 2-29, Mair 2 for 41) vs New Zealand

Alice Capsey marked her international return with a run-a-ball 45 in an otherwise lacklustre England batting performance against New Zealand in their rain-affected third. final ODI at Cardiff.

Capsey hadn't played since the 50-over World Cup last October. missing the first match of this series through illness before rain in Northampton ruined her intended comeback in the second game last Wednesday.

Her knock in challenging conditions helped her side to 181 for 4 in a match reduced to 33 overs per side with New Zealand asked to chase a DLS-adjusted target of 184,. her inability to convert to a more significant contribution underscored a problem throughout the England batting innings.

A 27-run cameo off 21 by Amy Jones gave them late momentum. acting captain Charlie Dean was still standing at the end with 16 off as many balls. But, as in the first match in Durham, the opening partnership of Emma Lamb. Jodi Grewcock failed to fire, while Heather Knight was England's next-best after Capsey with 28 off 42.

After rain pushed the start time back by an hour. New Zealand skipper Melie Kerr, seeking victory to level the series 1-1, put the home side in to bat and Bree Illing - the pick of the White Ferns bowlers - struck with her third ball, the ninth of the match.

She had Lamb caught behind off a thick outside edge to continue a lean run in an England shirt going back to her half-century against India in Durham last July. In seven innings since. Lamb has failed to pass the 15 she scored in the first match of this series, despite two half-centuries for Lancashire from three games in the domestic One Day Cup.

Grewcock was yet to score when she survived a feathered edge to wicketkeeper Izzy Gaze off Jess Kerr shortly after. no one in the White Ferns' camp appealed. She only managed 10, however, before her attempted drive off Rosemary Mair was keenly taken by a diving Gaze.

Knight had been building nicely with five boundaries on her way to 28 but when she was caught behind off Illing in the midst of a significant rain shower, it fell to Capsey. Freya Kemp to take up England's task with the umpires steadfast in their determination to stay on the field.

With the conditions overhead. underfoot worsening, Kemp slid over while turning after she'd run through as Capsey turned Melie Kerr to the fine leg boundary. They persisted for four more balls. a drinks break out in the downpour before play was finally halted for more than two hours with the hosts 77 for 3.

Kemp hadn't looked settled throughout a boundary-less 20 off 28 balls,. she played her part in a 57-run stand for the fourth wicket off 58 balls with Capsey before sending a Melie Kerr legbreak high into the air towards long-on, where Mair ran in to take a well-timed catch.

Just four balls later, Mair removed Capsey, chipping tamely to cover and Izzy Sharp gratefully accepted the offering.

Dani Gibson fell cheaply backing away to Nensi Patel, who hit the top of middle stump,. Jones miscued a slog-sweep to backward square leg.