Sophie Devine stars as New Zealand level T20 series against England

England suffered a disappointing 14-run defeat as Sophie Devine's brilliance levelled the T20 series for New Zealand at Canterbury.

England's bowlers started magnificently in scorching conditions, restricting New Zealand to 11-4, but Sophie Devine and Maddy Green added a record-breaking 159 for the fifth wicket to take the White Ferns to a competitive 170-5.

All-rounder Devine blasted 87 from 57 balls before she was run out from the final ball of the innings, with Green finishing 56 not out in support.

Devine hit six sixes and five fours as England's bowlers and fielders struggled under pressure in all-too-familiar scenes.

Linsey Smith dominated the powerplay as she finished with 3-25, removing opener Georgia Plimmer and skipper Melie Kerr for first-ball ducks, but the stunning recovery gave New Zealand the momentum into the second innings.

Although England started their chase positively, Sophia Dunkley was the first to throw away her start and fell for 26 from 18 balls.

After Alice Capsey was out for 22, Heather Knight and Maia Bouchier added 43 for the third wicket but their cautious approach saw the run-rate climb and when the pair fell in consecutive balls in the 16th over, New Zealand were within touching distance of victory.

Explosive all-rounders Dani Gibson and Freya Kemp were tasked with scoring 30 from the final two overs, but they were dismissed for 12 and 14 respectively as England finished on 156-6.

The series decider takes place at Hove on Monday, when even hotter conditions are expected.

New Zealand will be a team in transition at the end of this summer's T20 World Cup - when they will be defending their title - and veteran Devine showed exactly how big a gap she will leave in their batting line-up with one of her greatest knocks.

In a poor start, Izzy Gaze was bowled by Lauren Bell in the first over, left-arm spinner Smith had Plimmer caught and bowled, and Kerr missed a sweep to be pinned lbw.

Brooke Halliday was caught at long-off for three and England were in complete control at the end of the six-over powerplay with their opponents 29-4.

But Devine used all of her experience to put the pressure back on England. She clubbed Charlie Dean for back-to-back sixes to hit England's captain out of the attack - she bowled just one over for 14.

That meant all-rounders Kemp and Gibson had to bowl their full allocation, both conceding 34 from four wicketless overs, while Issy Wong went for 24 from her three.

Devine masterfully shuffled around her crease throughout, often ending up in a heap on the ground, but it was effective in throwing the seamers off their length.

The pair rotated the strike throughout which led to England's fielders frequently fumbling while Bouchier dropped a simple catch off Devine at long-off in the final over that saw another nine runs added afterwards.

England impressed all-round at Derby in the first game but this was a timely warning from one of the world's best teams about some of the quality they will encounter on home soil next month.