England destroy New Zealand in first T20

England skittled out the New Zealand White Ferns for their lowest ever T20 score of just 60 to set up a convincing eight wicket win in the first of their three T20 internationals.

Having won the toss New Zealand skipper Suzie Bates had no hesitation in batting on what looked like a good batting wicket. But within five overs the New Zealand innings was in tatters. Heather Knight once again opened the bowling for England in her new role as main spinner. The trust placed in her by Charlotte Edwards was not misplaced. After her opening bowling partner Katherine Brunt had picked up the key wicket of Bates in her first over, caught at mid-on by Hazell, Knight proceeded to take three wickets for two runs to reduce New Zealand to 10 for 4 after five overs. There were no great demons in the wicket it seemed, but Priest tried to go over the top, but succeeded only in skying a catch to Winfield at mid-off; McGlashan advanced down the track but played and missed to allow Sarah Taylor an easy stumping; and then Sophie Devine slog-swept Knight out to the deep midwicket boundary. It looked to be going for 6, but Lydia Greenway positioned herself just inside the boundary rope and leapt to take the ball in her hands. However her momentum carried her over the rope, but she threw the ball upwards and then stepped calmly back inside the boundary to complete a remarkable catch.

England celebrate Greenway's staggering catch (c) Ruth Conchie

There was no let up even after player of the match Knight completed her four overs taking 3 – 10. Dani Hazell moved to become the joint-leading wicket taker for England accounting for Broadmore for the third duck in the White Fern’s top five, and then Satterthwaite, as both tried to play across the line of the ball and were adjudged to be lbw. At 18 for 6 New Zealand looked strong candidates to record the lowest ever T20I score, beating Sri Lanka’s 57 all out against Bangladesh in 2012.

Katie Perkins and Erin Bermingham saw New Zealand through the next few overs, but the introduction of Anya Shrubsole accounted for Perkins for 8 to another fine catch by Greenway, and then Tahuhu, hitting a leading edge to Sciver to be caught at cover for 3. Bermingham, the only Kiwi to reach double figures, had taken her score to 20 and the New Zealand total to 55 before she too played across the line and was lbw to Laura Marsh. At 55 for 9 New Zealand still needed three runs to make it past Sri Lanka’s previous low. They just about managed to get there, as they limped to 60, before Shrubsole wrapped up the innings removing Georgia Guy’s middle stump with two balls of the New Zealand innings unused. Shrubsole finished with the excellent figures of 3 – 6 off her 3.4 overs.

England made a nervous start to their reply, losing Lauren Winfield for 1 with the score on five, as she skied a drive off Bermingham to Sophie Devine at cover, but Charlotte Edwards looked in confident mood as she hit Morna Nielsen for four over midwicket and then pulled her for another four in her next over. Meanwhile Sarah Taylor looked to have found some timing as she twice cut Georgia Guy for four through the covers to take her score onto 16, but she then feathered one through to keeper Priest off Guy to leave England on 35 for 2. But Edwards, and new partner Sciver, saw England home without further alarm in the 12^th over for a comprehensive victory which should fill them with confidence ahead of tomorrow’s second T20 on the same wicket. After that England move down to Christchurch for the last T20 and two more ODIs at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval at Lincoln University to end the tour.

full scorecard here - http://scoring.blackcaps.co.nz/livescoring/match2524/scorecard.aspx

Martin Davies

19/ii/15