Knight leads the way for England
Returning White Ferns captain Sophie Devine provided all the initial impact, but rival skipper Heather Knight had the bigger and final say.
New Zealand went 2-0 down in their T20 International series against England in Nelson yesterday, the visitors triumphing by 15 runs.
Devine, who missed the opening game of the series after helping Royal Challengers Bangalore to the Women’s Premier League title in India, resumed her leadership of the national side and opted to bowl after winning the toss at Saxton Oval.
She then bowled the second over of England’s innings and took a wicket with her first delivery, as Sophia Dunkley chipped a full delivery to short mid-on. Devine added a valuable second scalp by bowling Tammy Beaumont after the opener got to 19 from 13 balls.
But, with her side under pressure, opposing veteran skipper Heather Knight responded brilliantly by making a a superb half-century, taking over proceedings to swing the match in England’s favour.
Knight ended unbeaten on 56 from just 40 balls as her batting smarts and power game helped the visitors add 59 runs from their last five overs. That included 18 off the last over of England’s innings, bowled by Devine.
The White Ferns skipper shifted quickly to 17 from 14 balls in her side’s chase before falling lbw to off-spinner Charlie Dean.
Melie Kerr, who also missed the series opener after featuring in the WPL, looked capable of guiding the hosts to victory before being dismissed in the 15th over for 44 from 36 balls.
That sparked a horror collapse from the hosts, who lost five wickets for eight runs to fall out of contention.
There was also a moment to remember for England when left-arm spinner Linsey Smith took a wicket with her first ball in international cricket for nearly five years.
Smith, who featured as an import for the Otago Sparks over the summer, got a key wicket of Otago team-mate Suzie Bates after the New Zealand opener reached 19 from 13 deliveries.
White Ferns coach Ben Sawyer said his side had missed chances to level the series.
“I thought with the ball we started really well, obviously took wickets at regular intervals ... with the best teams in the world, we need to take wickets and do that regularly to slow the run-rate.
“There’s some improvements to be made in the back-end,” Sawyer said. “Same with the bat – we started really well ... it’s probably twice now that the middle’s let us down a bit.”
Game three of the five-match T20I series is at the same venue tomorrow afternoon.