England 89 for 6 (Capsey 28, Bouchier 23) defeated New Zealand 42 for 5 (Halliday 14, Dean 2-3) by 23 runs (DLS method).
Alice Capsey and Maia Bouchier propelled England to a strong total, which proved sufficient when Charlie Dean dismantled a struggling New Zealand lineup in a rain-affected second T20I in Hove.
Persistent rain delayed the start by two hours, reducing the match to nine overs per side. Capsey's rapid 28 off 15 balls and Bouchier's 23 off 15 helped England reach 89 for 6. Dean then took 2 for 3 in a single over, as New Zealand crumbled to 42 for 5 in 6.4 overs before the rain returned, ending the match prematurely and securing England a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. The next game moves to Canterbury on Thursday.
New Zealand, winning the toss and opting to bowl first, made two changes from the side that lost the opening match in Southampton. Hannah Rowe and Leigh Kasperek replaced Fran Jonas and Eden Carson. England brought back Lauren Bell and included Dani Gibson to replace Freya Kemp and Linsey Smith.
Thanks to Hove's excellent drainage and diligent ground staff, the playing surface was sufficiently dry. Despite the shortened match, Capsey and Bouchier found and cleared the boundary skilfully. Heather Knight contributed 15 off 14 balls, while Sophie Ecclestone ended the innings with a six off her only ball.
Bouchier took four legitimate deliveries to score but then hit a shorter ball from Jess Kerr over backward square leg into the stands and followed with a four through midwicket off Rowe’s first delivery. After Danni Wyatt's third-ball duck, Capsey hit back-to-back fours off Sophie Devine. Bouchier overcame a hit to the grille to score two more boundaries before being caught by Maddy Green at long-on.
Georgia Plimmer dropped a straightforward catch off Jess Kerr when Nat Sciver-Brunt was on 3. Sciver-Brunt then hit Tahuhu into the flats beyond the deep midwicket fence but was soon bowled by Tahuhu. Capsey smashed a six off Jess Kerr and launched Kasperek’s third ball over midwicket but was caught the next delivery.
Amelia Kerr took two wickets in three balls, including a return catch to remove Knight and stumping Gibson, leaving Ecclestone to hit her single ball for six.
Devine and Suzie Bates opened for New Zealand, but Devine fell for 9, caught by Capsey off Lauren Bell. Amelia Kerr was caught by Capsey off Sciver-Brunt, leaving New Zealand at 2 down within the power play. Dean removed Halliday lbw for 14, and Sarah Glenn’s excellent catch removed Bates for 4. Jess Kerr was caught by Knight, giving Ecclestone her first wicket just before rain ended the match. The players left with 2.2 overs remaining, and handshakes followed as the weather decided the result via the DLS method. Dean finished with figures of 1-0-3-2.