Charlotte Edwards has heaped praise on Heather Knight after she played a crucial role in helping England to a dominant eight-wicket win over New Zealand.
Knight took 3-10 as England women skittled the White Ferns for just 60 in the first Twenty20 international of the three-match series, before Edwards led the reply with an unbeaten 32 to give England an early advantage.
Anya Shrubsole also claimed three victims and Danielle Hazell chipped in with two, but it was the performance of the vice-captain that stood out as the hosts were reduced to 18 for six at one stage thanks to her part-time spin.
Speaking exclusively to ecb.co.uk , Edwards, the captain, said: “Heather has been fantastic since taking up off-spin last summer, a real find for us and opening the bowling in T20 is quite a hard job but she’s taken to it like a duck to water.
“Obviously with Katherine’s (Brunt ) experience at the other end they’re a good partnership but I thought all the other bowlers bowled fantastically well and obviously some fantastic catches.”
Knight was aided in particular by Lydia Greenway , who took a stunning catch at deep midwicket to dismiss Sophie Devine.
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 a huge slog-sweep by the number four, Greenway leapt to take a catch just inside the rope before throwing it back up in the air as her momentum carried her over the boundary. She then stepped back on to the pitch to complete a brilliant piece of fielding and give Knight a third wicket.
Reflecting on the catch, Edwards said: “Lydia Greenway, I just wish that catch had been caught on TV because it was one of the finest catches I’ve seen.”
It was an important win for the side, who had come into the game on the back of a disappointing 2-1 reverse in the International Cricket Council Women’s Championship one-day internationals .
The captain said to bounce back in the way they did was pleasing: “It was really important we started this series well and I thought we did that.
“This morning with the ball and to keep a very good New Zealand team down to 60 in T20 was a fantastic effort and to knock them off the way we did is really pleasing.”
She added: “We’ve got to bring this level of performance for the rest of the trip, we’re behind in the one-dayers and obviously (in) the T20s we’ve started well, but something we’ve struggled with on this trip is consistency.
Well done @heatherknight55 player of the match! #EngWomen https://t.co/urf7HXyrqm
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) February 19, 2015
“I knew the change of format would change us and help ignite some positivity around the group but its important we regroup and come back well tomorrow.”
Hazell, who closed in on Holly Colvin’s record as the highest T20 wicket-taker for England, said the six wickets claimed by the spinners showed how effective slower bowlers are in the format.
She said: “Over the last few years its shown that spin plays a massive part in T20 women’s cricket, we’ve got some good spinners in our squad and its really utilising and getting the best out of them.”
“We’re disappointed about how the one-dayers went, we’ve come here to try and put things right,” she added.
“It’s a different format, it’s a little bit free and a format that we all enjoy and we’re looking forward to tomorrow.”
And that's it! #EngWomen win by 8 wickets! https://t.co/vri6McsFQN
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) February 19, 2015