Cricket: White Ferns drop second game

Kate Broadmore of the White Ferns bats during the women's International Twenty20 match between New Zealand and England at Seddon Park. Photo / Getty Images

A commanding batting effort from England proved too much for the White Ferns to overcome in the second women's Twenty20 cricket international in Hamilton today.

England, who took out the first match in Wellington by six wickets, were sent in by New Zealand but that decision was looking unwise early when England opener Laura Marsh got her side off to a fast start.

She needed only 29 balls to bring up 48, with 11 fours meaning almost all of her runs came via boundaries. By the time Marsh was trapped in front by Lea Tahuha in the ninth over, England were in a commanding position with 82 on the board.

England pushed on to post 166-7 from their 20 overs, with Lucy Doolan the pick of the bowlers with 2-30.

In reply, the White Ferns got off to a bad start in losing Frances Mackay in the first over. New Zealand consolidated, with captain Suzy Bates and Sara McGlashan bringing up a 50-run partnership for the second wicket, but they were always behind on the run rate.

Aside from Bates' 37 and McGlashan's 28, no other New Zealand batsmen scored more than 20, as the White Ferns lost regular wickets. They eventually crumbled to 188 all out in the final over, falling 48 runs short of their target.

England take a 2-0 lead in the five-match Twenty20 series, with the third match set for Auckland on Wednesday.