156/6 (20.0)
CR : 7.80
170/5 (20.0)
CR : 8.50
New Zealand Women won by 14 runs 🏆
Player of the Match
Sophie Devine
0/1987(57)
10:02 PM IST, 5:32 PM Local Time: If you lose four wickets inside the first four overs, your chances of winning the game decrease significantly. But New Zealand Women played like world champions and staged a remarkable comeback, first posting 170 runs from a precarious position and then defending it successfully to level the series and force it into a decider.
Earlier, after opting to bat first, New Zealand Women were rocked early by England’s new-ball bowlers, Lauren Bell and Linsey Smith, as the duo removed four wickets inside the powerplay, with the latter claiming three of them. The visitors were in deep trouble, but Sophie Devine and Maddy Green helped their side stage a remarkable comeback in the latter half of the innings.
The duo anchored the innings brilliantly in the middle overs and gradually accelerated the scoring rate as the innings progressed. Their partnership grew from 50 to 100, and eventually beyond 150 runs for the fifth wicket, helping the White Ferns post a hefty 170/5 in 20 overs. Devine hammered a scintillating 87 before being run out on the final ball of the innings, while Green remained unbeaten on 56.
In reply, England Women got off to a promising start as Sophia Dunkley and Alice Capsey added 31 runs for the opening wicket inside four overs. Dunkley delivered 26 off 18 balls before falling to Amelia Kerr. Capsey then stitched together a crucial 45-run stand with Maia Bouchier to keep England in the chase.
Bouchier top-scored with 38 runs, while Heather Knight contributed 25. However, New Zealand Women kept striking at regular intervals during the middle and death overs, denting England’s momentum. The hosts lost three wickets for just 29 runs after reaching 119/2, which pushed them on the back foot in the chase and never recovered from that position.
Nensi Patel starred with the ball, claiming two crucial wickets, while Lea Tahuhu, Bree Illing, and Amelia Kerr chipped in with one wicket each. Despite late efforts from Freya Kemp and Issy Wong, England Women could only manage 156/6 in their 20 overs, falling short by 14 runs.
Stick around for the post-match presentation.......
Earlier, after opting to bat first, New Zealand Women were rocked early by England’s new-ball bowlers, Lauren Bell and Linsey Smith, as the duo removed four wickets inside the powerplay, with the latter claiming three of them. The visitors were in deep trouble, but Sophie Devine and Maddy Green helped their side stage a remarkable comeback in the latter half of the innings.
The duo anchored the innings brilliantly in the middle overs and gradually accelerated the scoring rate as the innings progressed. Their partnership grew from 50 to 100, and eventually beyond 150 runs for the fifth wicket, helping the White Ferns post a hefty 170/5 in 20 overs. Devine hammered a scintillating 87 before being run out on the final ball of the innings, while Green remained unbeaten on 56.
In reply, England Women got off to a promising start as Sophia Dunkley and Alice Capsey added 31 runs for the opening wicket inside four overs. Dunkley delivered 26 off 18 balls before falling to Amelia Kerr. Capsey then stitched together a crucial 45-run stand with Maia Bouchier to keep England in the chase.
Bouchier top-scored with 38 runs, while Heather Knight contributed 25. However, New Zealand Women kept striking at regular intervals during the middle and death overs, denting England’s momentum. The hosts lost three wickets for just 29 runs after reaching 119/2, which pushed them on the back foot in the chase and never recovered from that position.
Nensi Patel starred with the ball, claiming two crucial wickets, while Lea Tahuhu, Bree Illing, and Amelia Kerr chipped in with one wicket each. Despite late efforts from Freya Kemp and Issy Wong, England Women could only manage 156/6 in their 20 overs, falling short by 14 runs.
Stick around for the post-match presentation.......
Most Wickets for New Zealand vs England in WT20Is:
18- Sophie Devine
17- Amelia Kerr
15- Lea Tahuhu*
14- Leigh Kasperek
18- Sophie Devine
17- Amelia Kerr
15- Lea Tahuhu*
14- Leigh Kasperek
Time for the Post Match Presentations...
PLAYER OF THE MATCH: SOPHIE DEVINE
Sophie Devine (POTM): "(On turning the game on its head) Yeah, very pleased. England put us under real pressure up front. We were 4 down for almost nothing. However, to bounce back from that shows the growth of the group. To recover from that was amazing. We thought the wicket was a belter at first, however, it played two paced. That partnership with Maddy was outstanding I felt. We absorbed pressure really well and put it back at them.
(Approach at 11/4 as a batter) Yeah it is a tricky situation. Someone like me doesn't really like to hang around there. It actually is a battle with your mind. It is also important to have trust on the lower half to the batting line up and that helps a lot. We had to agree that they bowled well early on and we probably played too many shots. However, the way we rebuilt and then started to open up after the 10 over mark was really pleasing.
(On her great form at the last part of her career) I think I am just enjoying cricket and enjoying the time left on the international circuit. The way Maddy batted, I know there is a lot of talent out there and that is very pleasing. To leave the group when they are at their best is amazing. I'll be their biggest fan cheering from the sidelines."
(Approach at 11/4 as a batter) Yeah it is a tricky situation. Someone like me doesn't really like to hang around there. It actually is a battle with your mind. It is also important to have trust on the lower half to the batting line up and that helps a lot. We had to agree that they bowled well early on and we probably played too many shots. However, the way we rebuilt and then started to open up after the 10 over mark was really pleasing.
(On her great form at the last part of her career) I think I am just enjoying cricket and enjoying the time left on the international circuit. The way Maddy batted, I know there is a lot of talent out there and that is very pleasing. To leave the group when they are at their best is amazing. I'll be their biggest fan cheering from the sidelines."
Charlie Dean (England Women Captain): "[On NZ's turnaround] Yeah, I guess losing from such a brilliant position always hurts. But credit to Sophie Devine and Maddy Green for the way they batted. I think it showed how important it is in T20 cricket to have set batters at the crease in the last 10 overs and during the death overs. I thought we were actually in a good position to chase it down, but losing a couple of wickets at crucial moments meant we just couldn’t quite get there.
[At 11 for 4, what was going through your mind as captain? And how close were you to keeping Linsey Smith on for another over at that point?] Yeah, I think it was a big toss-up. Obviously, I kept Lauren Bell on at one end because I felt like we just needed one more wicket and we could really break through.
But it’s tough to bowl three straight overs in the powerplay for anyone, even someone of Linsey Smith’s quality. So yeah, I’ll probably reflect on the changes I made, but overall I’m pretty happy. Credit to them, they played really well."
[At 11 for 4, what was going through your mind as captain? And how close were you to keeping Linsey Smith on for another over at that point?] Yeah, I think it was a big toss-up. Obviously, I kept Lauren Bell on at one end because I felt like we just needed one more wicket and we could really break through.
But it’s tough to bowl three straight overs in the powerplay for anyone, even someone of Linsey Smith’s quality. So yeah, I’ll probably reflect on the changes I made, but overall I’m pretty happy. Credit to them, they played really well."
Amelia Kerr (New Zealand Women Captain): "(On the recovery from 11/4) Yeah I guess when you are 4 down in the powerplay, you are not in a good position. However, credit to Sophie and Maddy. The way they played got us in a position from where we could fight for a win. Incredible to watch.
(On the mindset after losing 4 early wickets) Yeah, we have been in this position before against South Africa. We were 3/3 and we still got past 300. So, these instances are giving us confidence that we bat deep and can bail ourselves out of such situations regularly.
(On the improved fielding in crunch situations) Yeah, I think when games get tensed, the batters look to hit big ones. Our fielders have done well to catch most of them. We have done some hard work with our fielding coach Craig McMillan. That is showing on the field. We pride ourselves as a fielding side and are happy to execute well."
(On the mindset after losing 4 early wickets) Yeah, we have been in this position before against South Africa. We were 3/3 and we still got past 300. So, these instances are giving us confidence that we bat deep and can bail ourselves out of such situations regularly.
(On the improved fielding in crunch situations) Yeah, I think when games get tensed, the batters look to hit big ones. Our fielders have done well to catch most of them. We have done some hard work with our fielding coach Craig McMillan. That is showing on the field. We pride ourselves as a fielding side and are happy to execute well."
New Zealand's Last 9 Results vs England in WT20Is:
Lost by 47 Runs, Wellington, 2024
Lost by 5 Wickets, Wellington, 2024
Lost by 59 Runs, Southampton, 2024
Lost by 23 Runs, Hove, 2024
Lost by 6 Wickets, Canterbury, 2024
Lost by 7 Wickets, The Oval, 2024
Lost by 20 Runs, Lord's, 2024
Lost by 7 Wickets, Derby, 2026
Won by 14 Runs, Canterbury, 2026 (Today)*
Lost by 47 Runs, Wellington, 2024
Lost by 5 Wickets, Wellington, 2024
Lost by 59 Runs, Southampton, 2024
Lost by 23 Runs, Hove, 2024
Lost by 6 Wickets, Canterbury, 2024
Lost by 7 Wickets, The Oval, 2024
Lost by 20 Runs, Lord's, 2024
Lost by 7 Wickets, Derby, 2026
Won by 14 Runs, Canterbury, 2026 (Today)*
That’s all from our coverage, folks! New Zealand Women won the second T20I by 14 runs and kept the series alive. We hope you enjoyed our ball-by-ball coverage. For now, it’s me, Deepak Prakash, signing off on behalf of co-commentator Manan Mehta and scorer/analyst Raju Khariya. CHEERS!