Kiwi women level Twenty20 series

Second Women's Twenty20 international, Rose Bowl:
New Zealand 147-8 (20 ovs) bt England 143-8 (20 ovs) by four runs
Match scorecard

By Jamie Lillywhite

McGlashan hit some inventive shots as New Zealand posted a useful total

Sarah Taylor's highest Twenty20 score could not save England's women from a narrow four-run defeat as New Zealand levelled the series at the Rose Bowl.

Suzie Bates hit eight fours and two sixes in 68 and shared 110 in 15 overs with Sara McGlashan (47) but the Kiwis lost six wickets for 30 in their 147-8.

England saw Charlotte Edwards run out from the first ball of their reply but Taylor added 80 with Jenny Gunn (24).

She fell in the penultimate over for 73 and England came up short on 143-8.

There was an extraordinary start to England's innings when Taylor's straight drive was touched on to the stumps leaving skipper Edwards way out of her ground.

Remarkably it almost happened again in the next over when an almost identical stroke was deflected by bowler Sian Ruck and came within inches of hitting the timbers and dismissing batting lynchpin Claire Taylor.

But Taylor did not last long, bowled for two after an ungainly swipe across the line at left-arm seamer Ruck, which left 130 needed from 98 balls.

Taylor gave England hope with an assured 66-ball innings

Ruck then struck twice in her next over, Laura Marsh getting in a tangle playing a 'Dilscoop' and skewing off the inside edge to backward square leg, and Lydia Greenway falling lbw to an inswinging yorker for a second ball duck.

It seemed as though there was no way back for England but Taylor, productive through the leg side, shared a fifty partnership in 39 balls with Jenny Gunn.

The Sussex wicketkeeper/batter brought up her third T20 fifty from 44 balls with her fifth boundary as the target was reduced to 55 from 42.

Both players hit forceful drives to the boundary as 15 came in an over from spinner Lucy Doolan, but Amy Satterthwaite then struck twice in her opening over.

Gunn chipped a simple catch to cover with 39 still needed from 34 balls and Danielle Wyatt was lbw to a yorker for a second ball duck.

Doolan dismissed Danielle Hazell and 20 were needed from the final two overs, with Taylor's fine innings ending in a run out after she attempted an ill-advised quick single.

Katherine Brunt sliced a four from the penultimate ball leaving six to win but it was not to be and the series will be decided at Hove on Friday.

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