WORCESTER: Nine wickets down at one stage and in danger of being bundled out for a modest score, England fought back impressively to take out the second One-day International against New Zealand by 13 runs (DLS method) and take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series at the Country Ground here.
Sent in to bat, England were reduced to 146/9 before the duo of Danni Wyatt (63 not out) and Tash Farrant (22) put on a 51-run 10th wicket stand to drag them to a fighting 197 all out. It was the biggest 10th wicket stand the England women's team have ever enjoyed in an ODI.
It proved crucial to England's victory as New Zealand were bowled out for 169 chasing a DLS revised target of 183 from 42 overs. Playing just her second ODI, off-spinner Charlotte Dean was England's best bowler, taking 4/36 from eight overs.
Wyatt, playing her first ODI since February, was adjudged Player of the Match.
While New Zealand went into the second ODI unchanged, England made two alterations to the team that won the first game — Wyatt and Farrant replacing Katherine Brunt and Freya Davies.
The two teams next meet on September 21.
Brief scores: England Women 197 in 43.3 overs (D Wyatt 63 not out; H Rowe 3/41, L Kasperek 3/31) beat New Zealand Women 169 in 39 overs (K Cross 3/43, C Dean 4/36) by 13 runs (D/L Method). IANS
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