The New Zealand women's cricket team have missed a golden opportunity to level their five match one-day series against England.
Photo: Matthew Impey/Photosport Ltd 2021
The English have beaten the White Ferns by 13 runs in a rain-affected second ODI in Worcester to take a two-nil series lead.
New Zealand bowled England out for 197 after winning the toss and deciding to bowl first, with Hannah Rowe and Leigh Kasperek taking three wickets each.
Danni Wyatt top scored for the English with an unbeaten 63, but got little support.
Suzie Bates and Lauren Brown got the White Ferns' chase off to a good start, guiding New Zealand to 63 for one in the 14th over.
But they lost three quick wickets in five overs to be 85 for four before the rain interrupted proceedings.
The White Ferns then required 183 from 42 overs.
They were on target, but ran out of wickets, dismissed for 169 with three overs to spare.
None of the New Zealand players scored 30 or more runs, with Brooke Halliday top scoring with 29.
"That hursts quite a bit actually," White Ferns captain Sophie Devine said.
"I thought we did exceptionally well to bowl them out for a sub-par total and then to not be able to finish the job with the bat is extremely disappointing.
"We need to have an honest look at ourselves and how we're going to win games like that because I back this side to win that sort of chase nine times out of 10."
The third ODI is in Leicestershire tomorrow night (NZT).