New Zealand v England: Heather Knight rescues tourists before spinners take charge

England took a 2-0 lead in the five-match T20I series in New Zealand, playing an almost identical game to Tuesday's win in Dunedin, with captain Knight recording her third straight T20I fifty

Nelson: England 149-7, New Zealand 134-8 - England win by 15 runs

Heather Knight's third successive T20I half century dragged England away from a nightmare start to set up a second straight win against New Zealand.

England were 77 for 6 in the 14th over after being put in to bat by their hosts, but Knight's rich vein of form – she has become just the second England batter to hit three consecutive fifties in the shortest format – steered her side away from the mire.

She finished unbeaten on 56 from 40 balls, well supported by Charlie Dean (16), with whom she shared a 45-run stand in five overs, and then by Sarah Glenn, whose six-ball 13 gave England the late impetus they needed, reaching a final total of 149 for 7 from their 20 overs.

In reply, New Zealand were once again stifled by the guile of Glenn and Dean through the middle overs, as well as Linsey Smith, who was impressive in her first England appearance since June 21, 2019.

As fate would have it, Smith had Suzie Bates caught at short fine leg with her first delivery – her first in international cricket, in fact, for 1,736 days.

In depth: Linsey Smith adds depth to England's strong suit ahead of spin-heavy World Cup

^{Sophie Devine was plumb lbw to Charlie Dean (Evan Barnes/Getty Images)}

She lived up to her billing by Jon Lewis as the second-best left-arm spinner in England after Sophie Ecclestone. She might just have played herself into adding to her 10 caps spread over six years.

Glenn was superb once again, giving away nothing with the ball and running out Bernadine Bezuidenhout with a direct hit in the second over of the run-chase.

The White Ferns were ahead of the required rate early on, but once the returning Sophie Devine missed a slog-sweep off Dean to be trapped in front, New Zealand fell away, with their hopes resting solely on Amelia Kerr (44).

Kerr scooped Dani Gibson to Lauren Bell for a second catch at short fine, and the pack of cards tumbled thereafter – a reverse of England's experience, as their top order failed before being bailed out by Knight, Dean and Glenn, all three of whom are enjoying a terrific series so far.

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