Sophie Devine of New Zealand hits a six against England.
Photo: www.photosport.nz
Sophie Devine and Maddy Green produced a record-breaking rescue act with the bat as the White Ferns beat England by 14 runs in the second T20 to level the three-match series 1-1.
After slumping to 11-4, New Zealand regrouped to post 170-5 at the St Lawrence Ground in Canterbury before restricting the hosts to 156-6.
The recovery was led by veteran Devine, who struck six sixes in her innings of 87 off 57 balls, and Green, who posted 56 off 48.
The pair’s stand of 159 was a New Zealand record for the fifth wicket and swung momentum firmly in favour of the tourists, only ending when Devine was run out on the last ball of the innings.
England’s chase was well-placed at 76-1 in the 10th over but they drifted over the second half of the innings in the face of some tight White Ferns bowling.
Melie Kerr of New Zealand celebrates taking the wicket of England’s Alice Capsey.
Photo: www.photosport.nz
Spinner Nensi Patel had top-scorer Maia Bouchier caught in the deep for 38 in the 16th over to give New Zealand the upper hand.
Patel finished with 2-25 off four tight overs while Melie Kerr, Lea Tahuhu and Bree Illing bagged a wicket each.
Devine was proud to play a leading part in a fighting New Zealand display.
“It shows the growth of the group, to be able to rebound and put on a score of 170,” she said.
“For a player like me, I don’t really like sitting back. It’s a real battle of the mind regarding what you want to do.
“We absorbed pressure really well and then to be able to throw it back at them at the backend. It’s a fantastic confidence builder for us.”
The third and final game is in Hove on Monday.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.