England are struggling with injuries due to Sophie Ecclestone in dominant victory over New Zealand

England’s comfortable Women’s Cricket World Cup victory over New Zealand was overshadowed by an injury to star spinner Sophie Ecclestone.

An eight-wicket win in this dead rubber from Visakhapatnam gave England a timely confidence boost ahead of Wednesday’s semi-final against South Africa.

New Zealand – who had already been knocked out of the competition – were bowled out for 168 inside 39 overs and England reached their target with more than 20 overs remaining and Amy Jones was unbeaten on 86.

But Nat Sciver-Brunt’s side took a deep breath after Ecclestone landed awkwardly on her left shoulder in an attempt to stop a boundary from the second ball of the match.

For exclusive stories and all the detailed cricket news you need, subscribe to The Cricket Paper website, digital edition or newspaper from just 14p per day.

Damaged shoulder

Ecclestone left the field before returning to the bowl and removing Brooke Halliday, caught by Sophia Dunkley at deep mid-wicket.

But Ecclestone bowled just four balls before leaving the action, with the England and Wales Cricket Board confirming she was receiving treatment on her damaged shoulder.

New Zealand’s Sophie Devine led the White Ferns for the final time after announcing the end of her 19-year ODI career ahead of this match.

First innings

Perhaps affected by Ecclestone’s injury, England made an erratic start in their final group match as New Zealand recovered from the early loss of Suzie Bates to build momentum through Georgia Plimmer and Melie Kerr.

The pair scored 68, but Alice Capsey and Charlie Dean – making her 100th international appearance – struck in successive balls and New Zealand lost their last nine wickets for 79 runs.

Halliday departed before Capsey took an excellent diving catch to remove Maddy Green, and there was to be no fairytale ending for Devine after 159 matches and more than 4,000 runs and 100 wickets.

She had made 23 off 35 balls when Sciver-Brunt found an inside edge and Jones completed the dismissal behind the stumps.

The innings slumped further as Linsey Smith clipped the top of Izzy Gaze’s off-stump, Sciver-Brunt trapped Rosemary Mair lbw and Jess Kerr was caught by Dean’s clever delivery.

Smith finished with the best figures in the innings of three for 30 when Dean took an excellent catch over her shoulder to remove Lea Tahuhu.

Second innings

Jones survived an lbw review in the first over with replays showing the ball whizzing past leg stump, but the umpire’s original decision not to run out stood.

Beaumont and Jones went past 50 for the fourth time in the competition as England dominated the 10-over powerplay.

Their highest opening stand of the tournament ended on 75, with Beaumont pinned lbw by Tahuhu for 40 off 38 balls.

Heather Knight was saved by evidence of ball tracking after being given out at 14 lbw.

But Knight failed to review after she made 33 off 40 balls, hit on the pad by a skidding delivery to give Devine her 111th ODI wicket.

Jones took England across the finish line with her 16th ODI half-century, comprising 11 fours and a six.

READ MORE: Ash Gardner and Annabel Sutherland inspire Australia to victory over England