New Zealand v England: Heather Knight sets up comfortable win for tourists

Knight struck 63 off 39 balls, leading from the front, with the tourists missing Nat Sciver-Brunt, Danni Wyatt, Alice Capsey and Sophie Ecclestone to the back-end of the Women's Premier League

Nick Friend | 19/03/2024 at 02:52

Dunedin: England 160-4, New Zealand 133-5 - England win by 27 runs

Heather Knight's classy half century set England on their way to a comfortable victory in the first T20I against New Zealand.

Knight struck 63 off 39 balls, leading from the front, with the tourists missing Nat Sciver-Brunt, Danni Wyatt, Alice Capsey and Sophie Ecclestone to the back-end of the Women's Premier League.

She was backed up well by Maia Bouchier, who finished unbeaten on 43, while Sophia Dunkley bludgeoned 32 after Tammy Beaumont had been caught at mid-off for 15 on her hundredth T20I appearance.

In depth: Streetwise England make light work of New Zealand with clinical display

On a slow pitch, the hosts never got close in reply, needing what would have been the highest successful run-chase in a women's T20I in New Zealand.

Suzie Bates struck her 28th T20I fifty but there was little in the way of support, with England streetwise and clinical in the execution of their plans.

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^{England's spinners were excellent as they ran out comprehensive winners (Joe Allison/Getty Images)}

Sarah Glenn's four overs cost just 17 runs, and she was rewarded with the wicket of Georgia Plimmer, caught at short fine leg, by which time Izzy Gaze had lobbed the third ball of the innings to cover. One ball earlier, she had almost run herself out.

Maddy Green wasn't so lucky; Charlie Dean deflected a straight drive from Bates onto the stumps at the non-striker's end to dismiss Green, with New Zealand 77 for 3 after 13 overs and 26 runs behind England at the equivalent stage.

They never really closed that deficit, with England coming out as comprehensive winners.

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