England dominated New Zealand with both bat and ball to secure a 23-run victory over DLS in the second women’s T20I at the 1st Central County Ground in Hove.
When play resumed after a two-hour delay due to rain, Maia Bouchier (23) Alice Capsey (28) starred with the bat as they scored quickly to help England to 89-6 in the allotted nine overs.
Lauren Bell (1-6), Nat Sciver-Brunt (1-10) and the impressive Charlie Dean (2-3) then worked quickly to put New Zealand on the back foot in the chase and when rain stopped play again with New Zealand needing 48 runs from the final 14 balls, England were given victory by 23 runs using the DLS method.
Danielle Gibson and Bell came into Heather Knight’s side in place of Freya Kemp and spinner Linsey Smith, with England entering the contest on the back of a huge 59-run win in the first T20I, four spinners in the contest, plus a fine 76 from Danni Wyatt, comfortably seeing them to victory .
With three T20Is remaining, attention now turns to when England face the White Ferns in the third T20I in Canterbury as they hope to extend their 2-0 lead and clinch the series.
Capsey and Bouchier showed urgency with the bat
It rained in Hove before the game and, despite clear skies, it returned with a vengeance in the afternoon.
It came off for the third time at 19.50 and finally at 20.30 the play was over in nine overs each side met.
New Zealand won the toss and elected to bowl. In the beginning, he played well, sending Danni Wyatt (0) walking for a duck in the second innings and leaving England 15-1.
However, Capsey came to the crease and made the difference alongside the fiery Bouchier, adding a couple of boundaries to take England to 24-1 at the end of the powerplay.
Although Bouchier then fell after sending one to long-on, Capsey continued to combine with Nat Sciver-Brunt (11) and captain Heather Knight (15), the captain reached over 2000 T20I runs in his innings.
Heading into the final over nine, England were 78-4 after Lea Tahuhu (2-20) sent Capsey running after a quick 28, the home outfit looked solid with the bat in difficult conditions despite falling wickets.
Amelia Kerr (2-21) removed Danielle Gibson (0) for a duck and sent Knight running with a big catch of her own in the final over but the moment of the round went to Sophie Ecclestone (6) who showed her aggressive attacking nature. this English side when he sent the final ball, and the only delivery he faced, out of the ground for six for England to 89-6 at the end of the innings.
England called off New Zealand’s hunt before the rain reappeared
England went to work quickly when they returned to the field and Bell and Sciver-Brunt struck early to remove Sophie Devine (9) and Amelia Kerr (1), Capsey did well to catch both and reduce New Zealand to 12-2 when they looked chasing after
It was then Dean’s turn to get in on the act as he struck twice in the same over, sending Brooke Halliday (14) and Suzie Bates (4) running and leaving New Zealand floundering further at 31-4.
With New Zealand needing a run rate of more than 15 runs, life got tougher for them as Ecclestone’s delivery (1-17) was sent to Knight waiting by Jess Kerr (0), rain then stopped play as they sat on 42. -5 with 6.4 overs bowled.
A target of 48 runs from 14 balls was a difficult task and one New Zealand never attempted and completed due to heavy rain again, the DLS method gave England a 23-run victory and a 2-0 lead in five games. – match T20I series.
What they say: Good practice of pressure and chaos
England captain Heather Knight…
“Practice is full of pressure and chaos, because you have to stay calm and make quick decisions. I thought we did well today.
“We can have the inclination to try and go very hard, but I have the right tempo. Manage to punch out the score and then those wickets that we start with killing the game.”
In the English way of counting today, he added:
“I think it’s really good, following the boundaries and doing it and doing the middle thing has been a bit difficult.
“Trying to go back for two people, hitting the pocket will be the key in Bangladesh. I thought we did something really good today and kept the scoreboard moving around the border.”
Charlie Dean, man of the match:
“I think it’s a bit of a steal, matchmaker, but I’ll take it!
“I thought Capsey and Bouchier really set the platform with the bat and Heather (Knight) on the back end.
“And the girls who bowled in the powerplay and took really key wickets and made it easier for me at the back end.”
What’s next?
England and New Zealand now travel to The Spitfire Ground in Canterbury on Thursday 11 July for the third T20I. You can watch it live on Sky Sports Main Event or Sky Sports Cricket from 6pm, with first ball at 6.30pm.
Watch the third T20I between England and New Zealand on July 11, live on Sky Sports from 18:15 (first ball 18:30). Stream the series without a contract with NOW.