New Zealand chased down 173 with four balls to spare, leveling the T20 series 1-1 after Sophie Devine and Maddy Green's match-winning 159-run partnership rescued the visitors from 11-4. Linsey Smith's explosive start yielded three wickets in ten balls, but England's momentum evaporated when stand-in captain Charlie Dean replaced her with Izzy Wong.

Dean's decision to withdraw Smith after just two overs backfired spectacularly as Wong leaked 17 runs in her opening spell, allowing New Zealand's experienced duo to stabilize and accelerate. The partnership transformed a precarious position into a competitive total, with both batters capitalizing on the reprieve.

Former England fast bowler Tash Farrant questioned the tactical switch on Sky Sports, calling it a 'no-brainer' to keep Smith bowling while she was dominating. Dean defended her choice as a 'toss-up' between maintaining pressure and giving Wong crucial powerplay experience ahead of the World Cup.

The series decider arrives Monday at Hove, where England must regroup from a missed opportunity that handed New Zealand momentum heading into the tournament.