Delhi: In the second T20 International match of the series played in Canterbury, New Zealand women’s cricket team made a brilliant comeback by defeating England by 14 runs and leveled the series. Team captain Sophie Devine played a strong innings in difficult conditions and took New Zealand to a respectable score.

He scored 87 runs in 57 balls, which included five fours and six sixes. At the same time, Maddy Green also supported him well by scoring unbeaten 56 runs.

New Zealand’s batting fell apart in the beginning

New Zealand, who came to bat first after winning the toss, had a very poor start. England’s bowlers Laurel Bell and Lynsey Smith wreaked havoc in the initial overs and gave New Zealand 3 wickets for 5 runs in the second over. After this, due to the fall of Brook Halliday’s wicket, the team’s score became 4 wickets for 11 runs and New Zealand appeared to be under complete pressure.

Sophie Devine and Maddy Green turn the match

Sophie Devine and Maddy Green took charge in the difficult situation. Both the batsmen first handled the innings and then gradually started increasing the run rate. Devine changed the course of the match by hitting two consecutive sixes on England spinner Charlie Dean. There was a brilliant partnership of 159 runs for the fifth wicket between the two players, which put New Zealand in a strong position.

In the last overs, New Zealand batted fast and scored a big score. Devine also batted aggressively in Freya Kemp’s over and hit consecutive sixes.

In the last five overs, New Zealand scored runs rapidly and made a challenging score of 170 runs in 20 overs.

England’s stumbling innings after a good start

The England team, which came to chase the target of 171 runs, made a fast start. In the first three overs, the team had scored 27 runs without losing any wicket. However, off-spinner Nancy Patel gave New Zealand its first success by dismissing Sophia Dunkley.

After this, Maya Bouchier played important partnerships with Alice Capsey and Heather Knight, which kept England in the contest, but as the run rate increased, the pressure on the batsmen increased.

Till the 16th over, England’s score was 2 wickets for 119 runs, but in the last overs, the New Zealand bowlers made a brilliant comeback and the England team could only score 156 runs after losing 6 wickets in 20 overs.

Nancy Patel’s tight bowling

The bowlers also played an important role in New Zealand’s victory. Nancy Patel bowled very effectively and took 2 wickets for 25 runs in 4 overs. Under his leadership, the New Zealand bowlers did not give the England batsmen a chance to play freely in the last overs and gave the team a memorable victory.