The White Ferns have lost their final match of their England tour — losing their fifth T20 by 20 runs at Lord’s to leave the New Zealanders winless all tour.
This is the first time they have failed to win a single game in a five-match T20 series and end the tour with eight losses against England.
Fran Jonas impressed with the ball early taking four wickets for the Ferns, including the wicket of Danni Wyatt first ball who was caught by Melie Kerr.
Jonas finished 4-22 and took a stunning catch to dismiss Nat Sciver-Brunt, reaching out low to her right as the ball was smacked back at her.
England fought back from 87 for 6 through the middle order partnership of England captain Heather Knight and Charlie Dean who managed a partnership of 57 runs off 36 balls.
Knight knocked an inspired 46 not out to recover England’s innings to a defendable total of 155-7.
Suzie Bates, Georgia Plimmer and Sophie Devine all failed to get going, leaving plenty of work to do for the middle order.
Melie Kerr and Brooke Halliday tried to spark a White Ferns fightback as they each hit sixes when the run rate was climbing to nearly ten runs an over. The pair recorded a partnership of 40 runs off 31 deliveries to give the White Ferns some hope.
However, the slight fightback ended swiftly with Halliday edging a Lauren Bell delivery that was going easily wide, to be caught behind and leaving the chase of 53 from 26 deliveries.
Kerr managed 43 off 36 balls but fell victim to a stumping after trying to get the run-rate going as the Kiwis pursued the necessary runs.
Maddy Green followed suit shortly after and, for a match that started so promising with the ball for the White Ferns, the tail-order fell and slumped to 135-8.
The Kiwis failed to get going with the bat all tour, something they also struggled with during the summer.
England also overpowered the White Ferns in New Zealand, only dropping one ODI and one T20.
The White Ferns summer opponents were announced yesterday and they will host number one in the world in white-ball cricket, Australia in December and next year in March. They will also host two white-ball series' against Sri Lanka.
The Australia tours seemed an already daunting prospect for the White Ferns but, off the back of this disappointing England tour, they could be staring down the barrel of a troublesome summer.
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