New Zealand v England: Heather Knight's half-century helps tourists to 2-0 T20 series lead

[CharlieH]

 

Second T20, Nelson
England 149-7 (20 overs): Knight 56* (40); Mair 2-25, Devine 2-30
New Zealand 134-8 (20 overs): Kerr 44 (36); Bell 2-24, Dean 2-28
England won by 15 runs
Scorecard

England captain Heather Knight made another half-century as her side beat New Zealand by 15 runs in the second T20 to take a 2-0 series lead.

England stumbled to 77-6 after being asked to bat but Knight, who made 56 not out, hauled England up to a competitive 149-7 in Nelson.

 

New Zealand were 100-3 but the wicket of Amelia Kerr (44) started a collapse of five wickets for eight runs.

They finished on 134-8 with Lauren Bell the pick of the bowlers with 2-24.

All of England's frontline bowlers took a wicket, including left-arm spinner Linsey Smith having Suzie Bates caught at short fine leg with her first ball in international cricket since June 2019.

The next game in the five-match series is from 00:00 GMT on Sunday at the same venue.

• Why Bell put England before £30,000 WPL deal

England's batting leaves more questions than answers

Coming into this series England probably knew five of their top seven for the T20 World Cup that takes places in Bangladesh from late September.

Danni Wyatt, Alice Capsey and Nat Sciver-Brunt - who will switch to this series from the fourth game after their involvement in the Women's Premier League - are set to join Knight and Amy Jones.

Three players - Sophia Dunkley, Tammy Beaumont and Maia Bouchier - are fighting for the second opener role and all fell in tame fashion.

 

REPORT