Kerr and Green lead New Zealand to series victory against Bangladesh

Amelia Kerr and Maddy Green set up New Zealand's 37-run over Bangladesh in the second women's T20I and give them an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series in Dunedin on Sunday.

Opting to bat first, New Zealand rode on Kerr's unbeaten 30-ball 46 and Green's 37 not out in 25 balls to put up 148. They lost two early wickets, of Sophie Devine and Georgia Plimmer, inside the powerplay, both to medium-pacer Marufa Akter, but Suzie Bates and Rebecca Burns scored 20 each to steady the innings. They were both sent back after the halfway mark of the innings, before Kerr and Green played entertaining knocks in a 77-run stand for the fifth wicket. Kerr's innings had five fours, while Green's had four.

Like New Zealand, Bangladesh also lost two wickets early - Murshida Khatun and Dilara Akter - inside five overs in a quite start to the chase. A 45-run partnership in 48 balls between No. 3 Sharmim Akhter and captain Nigar Sultana followed. But Bangladesh were never able to catch up with the asking rate.

Sultana top-scored with 33 and Akhter chipped in with 22, but they were both run-out just when Bangladesh would have looked to accelerate. From 81 for 3, Bangladesh lost five wickets for 30 runs and stopped 37 runs short.

For New Zealand, Lea Tahuhu, Eden Carson and Fran Jonas picked up a wicket apiece, while Hayley Jensen struck twice in the 19th over.

The third and final T20I will be played on December 7 in Queenstown.