England vs New Zealand: Sophie Devine's 87 sets up series-levelling win

New Zealand will be a team in transition at the end of this summer’s T20 World Cup – when they will be defending their title – and veteran Devine showed exactly how big a gap she will leave in their batting line-up with one of her greatest knocks.

In the tourists’ poor start, Izzy Gaze was bowled by Lauren Bell in the first over, left-arm spinner Smith had Plimmer caught and bowled, and Kerr missed a sweep to be pinned lbw.

Brooke Halliday was caught at long-off for three and England were in complete control at the end of the six-over powerplay with their opponents 29-4.

But Devine used all of her experience to put the pressure back on England. She clubbed Charlie Dean for back-to-back sixes as England’s captain was hit out of the attack by conceding 14 runs from her sole over.

That meant all-rounders Kemp and Gibson had to bowl their full allocation, both conceding 34 from four wicketless overs, while Issy Wong went for 24 from her three.

Devine masterfully shuffled around her crease throughout, often ending up in a heap on the ground, but it was effective in throwing the seamers off their length.

Devine and Green’s stand was the highest partnership against England in T20s for any wicket, and New Zealand’s third-highest of all time.

Their rotation of the strike throughout led to England’s fielders frequently fumbling while Bouchier dropped a simple catch off Devine at long-off in the final over that saw another nine runs added afterwards.

England impressed in all facets at Derby in the first game but this was a timely warning from one of the world’s best teams about the quality they will encounter on home soil next month.