The White Ferns have ended their losing streak against England, celebrating captain Sophie Devine's 100th Twenty20 International with a four-wicket victory at Hove.
An all-round display from the Kiwi skipper helped broke New Zealand's eight-game winless run, dating back to well before the current tour, and levelled the three-match series at 1-1.
Winning the toss and bowling, the White Ferns' first breakthrough came in the fourth over, as Jess Kerr clean-bowled England opener Tammy Beaumont for 13.
Beaumont was England's hero in the series' first game, with her 97 paving the way for a 46-run victory at Chelmsford.
Devine ensured the White Ferns capitalised on their start with the ball, removing England captain Nat Sciver (4) and wicketkeeper Amy Jones for a golden duck.
Regular wickets would hurt England's cause, with the only real standout score being 35 to opener Danni Wyatt, before she fell to Hannah Rowe.
All up, England posted 127/7 from their 20 overs, with Rowe (2/12) the pick of the bowlers, backed up by Devine (2/28) and Leigh Kasperek (2/20).
In response, the White Ferns openers added 31 inside the first five overs, with the partnership ended, when Suzie Bates was run out for eight in search of a risky single. England did their bit to help the White Ferns cause, sending down 10 wides, before breaking the opening stand.
At the other end, Devine took the attack to England, slog-sweeping Tash Farrant into the stands for a mighty six. By the end of the powerplay, New Zealand's equation for victory was a very achievable 85 runs needed from 84 balls.
Devine was dropped on 25 and made England pay immediately, sending Sciver over midwicket for six more and taking the required run rate to less than a run a ball.
After the loss of Amy Satterthwaite for 11 at 68/2, Devine clubbed Freya Davies over mid-off for four to reach a 39-ball half-century, including two boundaries and four sixes.
But Devine couldn't add any more after raising her bat, falling to an outstanding catch at long-on by Maddy Villiers for exactly 50, with New Zealand still needing 28 from the last 34 balls.
Despite a lower-order wobble that saw New Zealand slip from 100/2 to 124/6, a brisk 21 from Maddy Green and an unbeaten seven from Katey Martin saw the White Ferns home, as Farrant bowled two consecutive lots of two wides to end the match.
The third and deciding T20 is scheduled for Thursday at Taunton.
