England Level Series With Win Over New Zealand

Helen Housby starred arsenic England hit New Zealand 61-58 successful a breathless 2nd Test to tie their three-match bid level.

Player of nan lucifer Housby, who has represented England since 2014, scored 23 points, including nan first and past goals of nan crippled astatine nan Copper Box successful London, while Olivia Tchine scored 38.

England fought backmost from trailing 29-27 astatine half-time to declare a constrictive victory, winning by nan aforesaid scoreline that five-time world champions New Zealand achieved against England successful Saturday's bid opener.

"That was incredible, it was truthful so special," said Housby.

"I thought we put retired a beautiful bully capacity yesterday considering it was our first crippled of nan world season.

"But we went backmost to nan drafting board, and you saw what we wanted to do.

"I'm proud of nan girls. We showed a batch of subject successful nan past 5 aliases 10 minutes, keeping nan scoreboard ticking complete - and a batch of maturity."

The consequence levels nan bid 1-1, taking it to nan 3rd and last crippled successful Manchester connected Wednesday.

Little separated nan sides successful a lively first quarter, which ended pinch nan Silver Ferns holding a slender 13-12 lead.

Looking to build connected their advantage successful nan 2nd quarter, New Zealand opened up a four-goal lead. England fought backmost though were still outscored 16-15 successful nan 2nd play to way by 2 astatine nan halfway stage.

But they turned things astir successful nan 3rd quarter, which they ended confidently pinch a 46-42 lead.

The Roses sustained nan unit this clip - it had faltered aft their stellar third-quarter capacity against nan Silver Ferns connected Saturday. Another steal, this 1 by Housby, brought England caput coach Jess Thirlby to her feet and, this time, nan onslaught ended pinch a extremity by Tchine.

With 13 seconds near connected nan clock, Housby netted nan last extremity of nan game, inspiring a cheer from nan location crowd which lasted until nan buzzer.

"That's nan astir composed I've seen america heavy into a crippled of that context," Thirlby said.

"Physically and psychologically we stood up overmuch amended coming successful nan moments that we needed to.

"It wasn't without its challenges but nan conflict and nan measurement that they backed each different up successful those closing stages was truthful impressive."

Wednesday's decider will reason a bid which forms portion of nan sides' preparations for nan 2026 Commonwealth Games successful Glasgow, held crossed July and August adjacent year.