The County Ground, Chelmsford, was the setting on Tuesday for the Second Women's Test between England and New Zealand that saw the home country taking a 2-0 lead in the five-match series after gaining a seven wickets success.

The Kiwis were bowled out for 126 in the day/night encounter with Lewis top-scoring with 28 and England made light of their modest task, completing the win with only three wickets down.

Jenny Gunn took four for 26 from her 10 overs after the visitors had elected to bat.

Openers Rebecca Rolls and Paula Flannery were dismissed cheaply and the problems continued as New Zealand slipped to 32 for four before captain Maia Lewis and Helen Watson rescued the situation. They put on 46 for the fifth wicket before the stand was broken.

However, that heralded another mini-crisis as the next three wickets fell for the addition of just one more run.

The tourists' innings was given some substance thanks to a record eighth wicket stand of 43 between Nicola Browne (24) and Louise Milliken (21) which took the total into three figures.

However the re-introduction of Rosalie Birch into the attack proved the final undoing of New Zealand. She had earlier dismissed both Lewis and Watson, and another incisive spell saw her wrap up the tail to finish with figures of four for 29.

England's reply was steady rather than spectacular with their Clare Connor unbeaten on 28 at the end as she was able to oversee the winning ruins being struck with 14 of their allotted 50 overs to spare.

Published Friday August 13, 2004