England Women vs New Zealand Women Prediction & Preview – T20 World Cup 28th Match
Match summary
Our preview of England Women vs New Zealand Women in the 28th match of the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup at The Oval: XIs, pitch, weather and score range.
Match details
| Match | England Women vs New Zealand Women, 28th Match |
|---|---|
| Series | ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 |
| Date | 27 Jun 2026 |
| Start time | 5:30 pm GMT / 6:30 pm local |
| Venue | Kennington Oval, London |
| Status | Played |
| Our pick | England Women |
| Toss pick | New Zealand Women |
Matches in this series
Match preview
England Women meet New Zealand Women in the 28th match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, staged at Kennington Oval on Saturday 27 June. The game starts at 6:30 pm local time, and our preview expects a lively contest between two sides who both have plenty of attacking options.
England’s possible XI is built around Amy Jones, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Sophia Dunkley, Alice Capsey and Heather Knight in the top and middle order, with Freya Kemp and Dani Gibson adding all-round depth. Sophie Ecclestone, Charlie Dean and Linsey Smith give the attack spin options, while Lauren Bell leads the seam department. The wider squad is captained by Nat Sciver-Brunt and also includes Tilly Corteen-Coleman, Lauren Filer and Issy Wong.
New Zealand’s likely side features Georgia Plimmer, Amelia Kerr, Sophie Devine and Brooke Halliday, with Maddy Green and Izzy Sharp adding power. Jess Kerr, Nensi Patel, Rosemary Mair and Bree Illing form a balanced bowling group, and Suzie Bates, Lea Tahuhu and Polly Inglis are among the other names in their squad. Our view is that they have enough hitting to stay in the game, especially if they are chasing, but England’s batting depth makes them the narrow favourites. A first-innings target of 160 or more would put real pressure on any chase.
The Oval is usually a balanced surface. There is decent pace and carry for strokeplay once batters are in, and the new ball can seam early, especially under cloud. The pitch tends to ease for batting as the innings goes on, while spinners can find some grip in the middle overs. Around 150 to 165 is a competitive T20 total here, and sides who accelerate late can go beyond 170.
Warm and pleasant conditions are forecast for the 6:30 pm local start, with temperatures of roughly 27 to 29°C, mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies and only a minimal chance of rain. A light breeze could help the quicks early on, but the dry evening should favour batting and a full 20 overs per side looks likely.
Expected scores
| Innings | Predicted | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| First innings | 150–170 | – |
| Second innings | 140–160 | – |
England Women
Our preview leans towards England Women, whose deep batting order suits a ground that rewards stroke play once batters settle.
Toss pick: New Zealand Women
FAQ
Where is England Women vs New Zealand Women being played?
The 28th match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 is scheduled for Kennington Oval in London on 27 June.
Who is expected to win according to our preview?
Our preview picks England Women, helped by what is described as one of the deepest batting line-ups in the tournament.
What is a good first-innings total at The Oval?
A score of around 160 is regarded as highly competitive here, while anything above 170 can be hard to chase.
Probable XIs
Expected line-ups from our preview. c = captain, wk = wicketkeeper.
England Women
- Amy Joneswk
- Danni Wyatt-Hodge
- Sophia Dunkley
- Alice Capsey
- Heather Knight
- Freya Kemp
- Dani Gibson
- Charlie Dean
- Sophie Ecclestone
- Linsey Smith
- Lauren Bell
New Zealand Women
- Izzy Gazewk
- Georgia Plimmer
- Amelia Kerr
- Sophie Devine
- Brooke Halliday
- Maddy Green
- Izzy Sharp
- Jess Kerr
- Nensi Patel
- Rosemary Mair
- Bree Illing