Dominant England seal T20 series win over Pakistan

Second T20, Northampton

England 144-6 (20 overs): Sciver-Brunt 31 (21); Dar 2-33

Pakistan 79 (15.5 overs): Riaz 19 (17); Ecclestone 3-11, Capsey 2-4

England won by 65 runs; lead series 2-0

Scorecard

England sealed a series victory against Pakistan with a crushing 65-run victory in the second T20 in Northampton.

Chasing 145 to keep themselves in the series, the visitors slumped to 79 all out in 15.4 overs.

Spinner Sophie Ecclestone finished with 3-11 in a complete bowling effort that saw England dominate throughout.

Earlier, England reached 144-6 after Pakistan squandered a positive position.

They were in the game with England 127-5 at the start of the final over, but all-rounder Danielle Gibson provided a crucial 18 not out from nine balls to shift the momentum.

Nat Sciver-Brunt made a fluent 31 upon her return after egg-freezing treatment, while number three Capsey cracked the same score and opener Maia Bouchier hit 30.

While the total felt too much for Pakistan at the halfway mark, their meek response was disappointing, with no batter making it to 20 amid a cluster of soft dismissals.

The final match of the T20 series is at Headingley, Leeds on Sunday.

It was a peculiar batting display from England, whose total proved to be ultimately match-winning, but moments of brilliance were interspersed with frustration.

Bouchier and Capsey helped England start rapidly, with the former batting beautifully before Diana Baig's sensational one-handed scoop at cover saw her run out through no fault of her own.

Capsey struggled for her usual destructive fluency but still managed to smash five fours in one over, while Sciver-Brunt looked like she had never been away.

The all-rounder smoked her first ball for four and added five more, before she was dismissed by the economical spin of Sadia Iqbal, who took 1-20.

But there was another disappointment for opener Danni Wyatt, who was bowled for six, while Knight and Amy Jones made four and 15 respectively after their heroics at Edgbaston.

Gibson's finishing ability proved crucial again, however, smashing a six and a four from the final two balls to dent Pakistan's confidence after a much-improved performance in the field that was in vain after another woeful batting effort.