By Martin Davies
Anya Shrubsole and Katherine Brunt blew New Zealand women away to square the series with an emphatic victory by 90 runs in the second one-day international.
Defending 194, Shrubsole struck four times in a devastating mid-innings spell en route to figures of 4-36 from 10 overs.
Shrubsole’s new-ball partner Brunt returned an economical 2-11 from six overs while Heather Knight was even more miserly with 1-7 from four sets of six.
. @Anya_shrubsole chats to @bbctms following #Engwomen 90 run victory v @WHITE_FERNSpic.twitter.com/Jky5v6Pmux
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) February 13, 2015
The White Ferns were skittled for 104 at the start of the 37th over as Charlotte Edwards’ side convincingly made it 1-1 with three games to play, although the next clash on Sunday is the last of the trio that count towards World Cup qualification.
Player of the match Edwards earlier top-scored with 65 from the top of the order after winning the toss. The experienced skipper anchored the innings, batting longer than New Zealand later did. She received support from Sarah Taylor, who contributed 45 at better than a run a ball.
Although the tourists stuttered after Taylor’s knock to be all out in the 50th over, overall today was a much-improved display than Wednesday’s opener when New Zealand prevailed by 67 runs also at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui.
Shrubsole said: “We weren’t up to scratch the other day and we were determined to come in here and put in a good performance.
“We knew on this pitch runs on the board were really important, with the wicket getting lower and slower. If we got runs on the board and bowled how we can, we’d be in with a chance.”
On her own performance, she added: “I haven’t bowled brilliantly on this trip. I’d be the first to admit that. So I owed the girls a little bit in terms of wickets. I just went back to basics and bowled straight with lots of cutters.”
Shrubsole, whose first over went for 12, which led to her being removed from the attack, came back with all guns blazing after her fellow bowlers had made early inroads.
An accurate opening spell from Brunt had accounted for Rachel Priest, but only after Edwards had run out Wednesday’s centurion, Suzie Bates, for a duck thanks to a parried stop at square-leg and a relay to wicketkeeper Taylor.
Wicket maintenance at the halfway stage between #EngWomen v @WHITE_FERNShttps://t.co/O57Kh7YAaE
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) February 13, 2015
Cue Shrubsole’s return with New Zealand struggling at 51 for three, Knight having bowled Amy Satterthwaite just before the drinks break.
After a couple of miserly overs Shrubsole bowled Katie Broadmore going back to a full delivery, and next ball she trapped Sara McGlashan plumb in front.
Two overs later she accounted for Katie Perkins, again lbw, and then produced a perfect yorker to bowl Sophie Devine.
The heart had been ripped out of the New Zealand innings and there was no way back into the game from 82 for seven.
Anna Petersen put up some staunch resistance but she was last out to Dani Hazell for 21, her second wicket.
England’s innings was built around Edwards. However she had to watch as a procession of batters came and went at the other end.
First to go was Knight, who early on attempted to paddle-sweep left-arm spinner Morna Nielsen but was bowled behind her legs.
Lauren Winfield hung around, having been given a life on nought by Priest behind the stumps. Having survived several loud lbw shouts, she was finally given out lbw for 14 off 40 balls as she aimed another on-side shot at Katie Broadmore.
Here we go then #EngWomen are back on the field aiming to defend 194 v @WHITE_FERNSpic.twitter.com/2gnHWhQBwh
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) February 13, 2015
Taylor immediately found her touch, helping England to 129 for two, but the introduction of part-time spinner Petersen changed the game back in the White Ferns’ favour. Taylor tried her trademark whip to leg but only succeeded in finding Perkins’ hands at midwicket.
Two overs later Lydia Greenway fell for a duck as she was bowled by Petersen, and immediately after the drinks break Natalie Sciver played round a straight ball and was bowled by Devine.
England were back in trouble at 144 for five, and things went from bad to worse as Edwards was bowled by Erin Bermingham trying to work the ball to leg.
Brunt and Hazell at least made sure the tourists took their innings into the 50th over before England were all out with four balls unused.