By Martin Davies
England claimed a convincing eight-wicket win over New Zealand in the first Twenty20 international after bowling the hosts out for their lowest-ever score at the Cobham Oval.
The White Ferns were dismissed for just 60 after choosing to bat first, and England wasted no time in reply, knocking off the runs with more than eight overs remaining, with captain Charlotte Edwards finishing unbeaten on 32.
After victory in the International Cricket Council Women's Championship one-day internationals on Sunday, Suzie Bates had no hesitation in batting on what looked like a good 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 and followed up Katherine Brunt’s early wicket of Bates with three wickets for two runs to reduce New Zealand to 11 for four after five overs.
Rachel Priest and Sara McGlashan both fell cheaply to Knight, but the most eye-catching of the wickets was that of Sophie Devine, who was caught spectacularly on the boundary by Lydia Greenway .
WICKET! INCREDIBLE catch on the boundary by @lydiagreenway on the boundary at deep mid-wicket, one handed pluck, throw back in, catch! WOW!
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) February 18, 2015
After leaping to take a catch just inside the rope, Greenway's momentum carried her over but she threw the ball upwards and then stepped calmly back inside the boundary to complete a remarkable catch.
There was no let up even after player of the match Knight completed her four overs taking 3-10. Danielle Hazell moved to become England’s joint leading T20 wicket-taker when she accounted for Kate Broadmore, for the third duck in the White Ferns' top five, and then Amy Satterthwaite as both tried to play across the line of the ball and were adjudged lbw.
At 18 for six New Zealand looked strong candidates to record the lowest ever women’s 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 eight to another fine catch by Greenway, and then Lea Tahuhu, hitting a leading edge to Natalie Sciver to be caught at cover for three.
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 nine New Zealand still needed three runs to make it past Sri Lanka’s previous low. They just about managed to get there before Shrubsole wrapped up the innings removing Georgia Guy’s middle stump with two balls of the New Zealand innings unused and finishing with figures of 3-6 inside her four overs.
England made a nervous start to their reply, losing Lauren Winfield caught at cover with the score on five, but Edwards looked in confident mood as she hit Morna Nielsen for four over midwicket and then pulled her for another boundary in her next over.
Sarah Taylor looked in good touch as she twice cut Guy for four through the covers to take her score onto 16, but she then feathered one through to keeper Priest to leave England on 35 for two.
However, 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.
And that's it! #EngWomen win by 8 wickets! https://t.co/vri6McsFQN
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) February 19, 2015