Image Credit- Getty
Once more, Heather
Knight was instrumental in getting England out of difficulty in Nelson and into
a position from which the visiting spinners could frustrate New Zealand’s chase
and win the Twenty20 International Series 2-0.
At different points in time, it appeared as though Sophie Devine and Amelia
Kerr’s return would motivate New Zealand to overcome their first-round defeat
in Dunedin. But the middle and lower order for the home team collapsed when
Kerr fell, having reduced the required score to an attainable 50 off 33 balls.
After arriving late
in the series because of the WPL, Devine quickly resumed her role in the
action. As England battled for early momentum, she removed Tammy Beaumont with
her first ball, dismissing the dangerous Sophia Dunkley at midwicket. Later in
the powerplay, she also easily dismissed Sophia Dunkley.
After struggling for 12 from 20 balls, Maia Bouchier toe-ended an attempted
reverse scoop into the covers, putting New Zealand far ahead. At the halfway
stage, England were only 57 for 4, thanks to a lofted shot from Amy Jones off
Lea Tahuhu.
Before things could
get any better, England lost both Danielle Gibson and Bess Heath, leaving them
at 77 for 6 in the fourteenth over. Crucially, though, Knight remained in form
and produced yet another masterfully constructed half-century to follow her winning
hand in the opening game.
Despite the difficulties England was facing, she was able to play so well with
Dean and Glenn that 59 runs came off the final six overs, which included two
rope clearings by Knight and two boundary hits by Glenn in the last – from
Devine, which cost 18.
Having initially had to hold the innings together, Knight went from 22 off 23
balls to finish with 56 not out off 40.
Although England had
an early advantage in the field thanks to a straight-hit run out from Glenn
that found Bernadine Bezuidenhout short, New Zealand was keeping up nicely at
35 for 1 after four overs with Suzie Bates and Kerr combined.
Then, with her first ball as a left-arm spinner in international cricket for
almost five years, Smith got Bates to top-edge to short fine leg, a feat that
her teammates celebrated with exuberance. For England’s spinners, it marked the
beginning of a significant role.
But it was Gibson’s medium-pace that set England firmly on the path to triumph,
when she had Kerr caught at short fine leg after the batsman had played with
confidence for 44 off 36 balls. After her return, Lauren Bell took two wickets
in three balls and there was far too much for the lower order to do.