New Zealand fought back from a terrible start with the bat to seal a 14-run win over England at Canterbury and level the three-match T20 series.
Three wickets in four balls – with two for Linsey Smith – had seemingly given England the perfect platform before New Zealand recovered with a superb 159 partnership from Sophie Devine (87) and Maddy Green, who made an unbeaten 56, to post 170 for five.
England, who secured a seven-wicket victory in the opening T20 on Wednesday, made a positive start through openers Sophia Dunkley (26) and Alice Capsey (22).
However, once Heather Knight (25) was run out after a being sent back by Maia Bouchier, who was then dismissed for 38 next ball, New Zealand’s bowlers kept the pressure on to see off late cameos from Dani Gibson and Freya Kemp as England came up short at 156 for six.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, New Zealand soon slipped to 11 for four as Smith took three wickets in her first two overs before recovering to reach 67 without further loss at the halfway stage.
England, without Sophie Ecclestone as she manages a quad issue, struck at the end of the first over when Lauren Bell dismissed Izzy Gaze (four). Left-arm spinner Smith then had opener Georgia Plimmer caught and bowled for a golden duck before also swiftly removing White Ferns skipper Melie Kerr lbw. Her review was unsuccessful.
After left-hander Brooke Halliday was caught at mid-off from Smith in the fourth over, Devine steadied the New Zealand innings with 40 off 28 balls.
Devine then survived a review after initially being given out lbw on field to Gibson to push on alongside Green, bringing the 100 up at the start of the 15th over and then continuing to punish a wilting England bowling attack.
Having hit six sixes and five fours, Devine was eventually run out for 87 off the final ball, her partnership with Green becoming New Zealand’s highest in women’s T20s against England. Smith finished with three for 25.
England set about the run chase during the powerplay, with Dunkley making 26 from 18 balls before chipping spinner Nensi Patel straight to Kerr in the fourth over.
Kerr then struck with the ball to bowl Capsey, the key England batter having made an unbeaten 74 at Derby, to leave the hosts at 76 for two.
New Zealand’s bowlers kept the pressure on as boundaries dried up and the run rate moved above 10 heading into the 13th over.
Just after England had brought up the hundred, Knight was run out, having been sent back to the bowler’s end, despite a desperate dive to ground her bat.
Bouchier had totally lost her composure when she was out next ball after slogging Patel to Plimmer at long-on, leaving England 119 for four.
It looked a tall order from then, despite Gibson making a swift 12 before being bowled by Bree Illing and Kemp a run-a-ball 14.
The final match of the series is at Hove on Monday.
