Dunedin, Feb 26 (UNI) England women claimed an unassailable 2-0 series lead after beating New Zealand by seven wickets in the second ODI, here on Friday.
After dismissing New Zealand for 192 runs, England overcame a shaky start with the bat to chase down the target of 193 in 37.4 overs.
Defending a modest total, New Zealand needed to start strongly with the ball and they did just that.
Just three balls into England’s innings Jess Kerr struck dismissed the dangerous Danni Wyatt for a duck. White Ferns followed that up by running out England captain Heather Knight for eight to leave the tourists in a tricky spot at 12/2 in the third over.
However, the hosts' momentum did not last for much longer as Tammy Beaumont and Natalie Sciver put England firmly in control with a 103-run stand.
Sciver played the dominant hand in the partnership, scoring a 60-ball 63 punctuated by six boundaries including one six. When she departed in the 24th over off the bowling of Brooke Halliday, England were in a position of relative comfort, needing 78 runs to win with plenty of time to get there.
In the company of Amy Jones (46*), Beaumont ensured England got the job done with a minimum of fuss, finishing unbeaten on 72.
Earlier, New Zealand were bowled out for 192 after winning the toss.
The White Ferns were on the backfoot from the get-go as England’s new ball duo of Katherine Brunt and Sciver ran through the hosts’ top-order.
On the fifth ball of the innings, Brunt found Hayley Jensen’s outside edge for a duck. In her next over she bowled Natalie Dodd for two to reduce New Zealand to 9/2.
Things quickly got worse for New Zealand as captain Sophie Devine fell for six to Sciver in the sixth over, with the all-rounder making the most of a rare chance with the new ball. Looking to nudge one off her pads, Devine’s leading edge landed safely in the hands of midwicket.
She was soon followed back to the pavilion by Amelia Kerr (2), leaving New Zealand four down in the eighth over. When Amy Satterthwaite got out for 13 in the 14th over, off the bowling of Kate Cross, New Zealand were 34/5 and looked to be in serious danger of being bowled out for less than 100.
That was still on the cards when Katey Martin (17) perished to Sarah Glenn to leave New Zealand at 76/6 in the 23rd over. Fortunately for New Zealand, Halliday led an impressive rear-guard fightback with the lower order.
Halliday scored an impressive 60 off 80, including six boundaries. Alongside Maddy Green, she took New Zealand past 100 in a 48-run seventh-wicket stand that was only ended by a mix-up that cost Green her wicket for 14.
When Halliday fell to Sciver in the 39th over, New Zealand were 137/8 and England would have had eyes on keeping the White Ferns under 150. But, Hannah Rowe (29*) and Jess Kerr (28) then put on 53 runs together before the latter was removed by Glenn in the penultimate over.
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