New Zealand vs England, 2nd Women’s T20I - Tips & Preview - Kiwis Desperate To Bounce Back After Losing The Opening T20

The series opener played out quite predictably. New Zealand’s slightly under-strength squad were handed a comprehensive 27-run defeat by England in Dunedin. This means New Zealand are in a must-win situation as the series now moves to Nelson.

The good news for New Zealand is Sophie Devine, their regular T20I captain, and Amelia Kerr, their star allrounder, will be back for the second T20I.

Devine and Kerr were unavailable for the series opener due to logistical reasons. They were part of Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore, respectively, for WPL 2024, which Devine’s side won on Sunday night in New Delhi.

Kerr was Mumbai’s second-highest run-getter with 215 runs in nine innings, behind captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s tally of 268 runs. She also picked up seven wickets with the ball. While these aren’t outstanding returns, there’s enough to suggest Kerr was in decent form right through, playing the role of a finisher and then delivering some tough overs.

Devine couldn’t replicate her smashing performance in WPL 2023. While she was backed by the RCB management and played every single game, she hardly proved the marauding threat she could be at the top of the order. She finished with just 136 runs in 10 innings at a strike rate of 125 while also proving to be very expensive with the ball.

England, too, lacked a few key players, like Nat-Sciver Brunt and Danni Wyatt. But their replacements did wonderfully well. Sophia Dunkley, who withdrew from the WPL auction to focus on international cricket, laid the foundation with 32 off 24, and then Heather Knight, who pulled out of the tournament due to a clash with this series, laid the finishing touches. She also top-scored with a 39-ball 63, hitting eight fours and a six.

Her 91-run stand for the third wicket with Maia Boucher, who made 43 not out, helped shore up their score to 160, which was more than adequate against a top-heavy batting line-up. Barring Suzie Bates, who made 65, there was hardly any support from the rest.