England maintained their 100% tour record against New Zealand on Tuesday evening at Hove with a 23-run win on DLS.
The only respite for the tourists came from the weather, which shortened the match to nine overs apiece after a two-hour rain delay before play, before intervening again to curtail New Zealand’s run-chase after just 6.4 overs.
But England were dominant throughout, scoring at almost 10 an over before overcoming the tricky, damp conditions to leave New Zealand five wickets down and well behind the rate when the rain returned.
Alice Capsey loves batting at Hove – she hit a half-century against Sri Lanka here in September last year – and she showcased some of the swagger she has been lacking of late, whipping out a ramp against Sophie Devine first ball en route to 28 from 15 balls that included two big sixes, before chipping in with two sharp catches at mid-wicket to knock the stuffing out of New Zealand’s chase.
“It’s brilliant that Capsey got an opportunity today,” teammate Charlie Dean said. “We know how powerful and fiery she is. Clearing the ropes up the hill at Hove is pretty impressive.”
In the run-chase, New Zealand put their faith in the retro class of their old-time opening pair, Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine – Devine bumped up the order from No 4 to reunite the Smash Sisters – but the Kiwi skipper pulled Lauren Bell into the hands of Capsey in the second over. Five balls later Melie Kerr repeated the feat, before, with the noose tightening, two wickets in a single over from Dean sealed New Zealand’s fate.
Earlier, England’s batters had clearly come out with licence to thrill after New Zealand chose to bowl first. Maia Bouchier took just three balls to warm up before effortlessly flicking Jess Kerr over the leg-side rope for six, while Nat Sciver-Brunt took advantage of being put down by Georgia Plimmer in the deep to smash a huge boundary over the roof of the hospitality box at cow corner, right out of the ground.
Leigh Kasperek, making a return to the international scene after a 12-month absence, had Capsey caught slashing to short third in the penultimate over, while Melie Kerr picked up two further wickets in the ninth. But Sophie Ecclestone, faced with just one ball to make an impact, smacked it over long on for six as England’s depth shone through.
England have already won the ODI series and can clinch the T20 series if they win the third match at Canterbury on Thursday.
