A Kate Broadmore four through long-on brought up the win for the New Zealand women's cricket side today as they beat England by six wickets at Cobham Oval in Whangarei.
England set a target of 122 for a New Zealand side, who were dismal in yesterday's Twenty20 opener. Their total of 60 in 19.4 overs was the lowest since their 69 against Australia in Sydney in the 2011/12 season.
The early dismissal of England captain Charlotte Edwards by Morna Nielsen in the fourth over today was just the start the White Ferns needed in order to shy away from Thursday's dreary performance and they held the touring side to 122 for 5. Nielsen bagged a second wicket and Erin Bermingham and Georgia Guy also chimed in. A Kate Broadmore/Rachel Priest collaboration ran out England right-hander Heather Knight.
White Ferns captain Suzie Bates and Rachel Priest started the chase well, getting through to 64, and Priest finished with 41. With four runs required off the last over, Sophie Devine and Kate Broadmore stood down any real threat from England's Laura Marsh to level the Twenty20 series 1-1.
"We showed a lot of fight to come back today and perform the way that we have," Priest said. "It was quite a small total but these ones can be quite difficult to chase, so getting that good start for us gives the other batters the confidence to go out there and do it as well."
White Ferns Coach Hamish Barton put today's win down to a solid team ethic within the current women's squad.
"It was just about our game smarts, really, so we could pace ourselves through the whole innings. Having that togetherness and playing as a team, all of the individual performances count toward the collective team performance.
"I think that's the reason we were able to bounce back so well, everyone sticks together and does their role."
The third and deciding match will be played at Lincoln on Tuesday.
- Josh Berry of the Northern Advocate
