England have won their second ODI against New Zealand, claiming a 2-0 series win.
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England took the lead with the bat to run down a target of 193, getting home with seven wickets in their hands and 12.2 overs remaining.
Defending a relatively small number, New Zealand had to start strong with the ball and they did just that.
Just three balls into English innings hit Kerr Kerr, bowling the dangerous Danni Wyatt through the inside edge for duck. These continued to run out England captain Heather Knight for eight to leave the tourists in a difficult spot at 12/2 in third place.
The hosts ’move didn’t last much longer though, as Tammy Beaumont and Natalie Sciver took strong control of England with a 103-run stand.
Sciver played the leading hand in the partnership, getting a 60-ball 63 with six boundaries including one six.
When she left in the 24thth over, caught at midwicket off the bowling of Brooke Halliday, England were in a very comfortable position, needing 78 runs to win with plenty of time to get there.
In the company of Amy Jones (46 *), Beaumont ensured that England got the job done with very little growth, finishing unannounced at 72.
Earlier, New Zealand were knocked out for 192 after winning the toss.
The White Ferns were on their way back from going as the new England ball duo of Katherine Brunt and Sciver ran through the guests ’high order.
On the fifth ball of the innings, Brunt found Hayley Jensen’s outer edge, removing the first ODI half-century maker for duck. In the next step she introduced Natalie Dodd for two to reduce New Zealand to 9/2.
Things got worse for New Zealand quickly as captain Sophie Devine fell for six to Sciver in the sixth, with the round player making the most of a rare opportunity with the new ball. . Looking to stab a man off her pads, Devine’s edge came safely into the hands of a midwicket.
She was soon followed back to the pavilion by Amelia Kerr (2), whose wood was damaged by a jewel from Sciver, leaving New Zealand four down in eighth place.
When Amy Satterthwaite walked for 13 in the 14thth over, caught behind Kate Cross bowling, New Zealand were 34/5 and appeared to be in serious danger of being sent off for less than 100.
That was still on the cards when Katey Martin (17) went to Sarah Glenn to leave New Zealand at 76/6 in the 23rd.rd over. Luckily for fans at the University Oval, Halliday led an impressive defensive back fight with the lowest order.
Coming to fifty years on the first in the series opener, Halliday got a good 60 from 80, including six boundaries.
Along with Maddy Green, she handed New Zealand over 100 in a 48-run seven-wicket stand that ended only with a combination that cost Green his wicket for 14.
When Halliday fell to Sciver in the 39thth past it, New Zealand were 137/8 and England would have kept an eye on the White Ferns under 150. Hannah Rowe (29 *) and Jess Kerr (28) had other ideas, putting together 53 runs before the last one taken away by Glenn in the half hour over.
He gave New Zealand something to defend but it was unlikely to be enough.