Devine powers New Zealand past England to level T20 series
Sophie Devine’s 87 dragged New Zealand back from 11-4, and a 159-run stand with Maddy Green levelled the series. England’s chase stalled at 156-6.
England seized control with four wickets in the first four overs, yet still allowed New Zealand to rip the match away. Sophie Devine and Maddy Green turned a collapse of 11-4 into a commanding total of 170-5, and New Zealand’s 14-run win levelled the T20 series at 1-1.
Devine, the White Ferns captain, made 87 from 57 balls before she was run out off the final delivery of the innings. Her innings featured six sixes and five fours, but the bigger story was the rescue act she authored with Green. Their 159-run fifth-wicket partnership was the second-highest fifth-wicket stand in women’s T20I history, a recovery that exposed how quickly England’s early pressure dissolved once New Zealand’s senior batters found rhythm.
The momentum shifted after England’s fast start left New Zealand stranded on 11-4. From there, Devine and Green rebuilt with control, placement and force, leaving England to chase a total that should have looked daunting even on a good batting surface. Green finished unbeaten on 56, ensuring New Zealand carried the advantage into the field and ending an eight-match losing streak against England in the format.
England’s reply never fully recovered from the damage inflicted in the middle overs. Maia Bouchier made 38 and Heather Knight added 25 in England’s strongest stand, but that partnership was broken by Nensi Patel, whose back-to-back dismissals changed the match decisively. Patel finished with 2-25 and gave New Zealand the opening it needed to close out England for 156-6.
The result carried wider weight than one evening’s scoreline. England have been using this New Zealand series as part of their preparation for the Women’s T20 World Cup, which begins against Sri Lanka at Edgbaston on 12 June. Instead of building toward the decider from a position of control, England head to Hove with the series level and their execution under pressure under scrutiny. The third and deciding T20 will be played at Hove on Bank Holiday Monday, 25 May, starting at 2.30pm UK time, with New Zealand carrying the sharper momentum and England left to answer the same question that Devine’s innings made unavoidable: how do they finish the moments they begin so well?
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