Capsey and Bell impress as England win T20 opener

Figure caption,

Bell dismisses Plimmer with first ball of the game

First T20, Derby

New Zealand 136-7 (20 overs): Devine 45 (22); Bell 2-23

England 140-3 (17.2 overs): Capsey 74* (51); Illing 2-19

England won by seven wickets

Scorecard

Alice Capsey's unbeaten 74 from 51 balls led England to a comfortable seven-wicket win over New Zealand in the first T20 at Derby.

Promoted to open in the absence of Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Capsey struck three sixes in her brilliant knock as the hosts reached their target of 137 with 16 balls to spare.

Capsey added 64 from 35 balls for the third wicket with all-rounder Freya Kemp, who finished unbeaten on 31, to complete a comfortable chase which kicks off their T20 World Cup preparations.

Earlier, New Zealand - who will be defending their T20 title when the tournament begins in June - trudged to 136-7 after losing Georgia Plimmer to the first ball of the game, bowled by Lauren Bell.

Sophie Devine bludgeoned 45 from 22 balls including three sixes from Sophie Ecclestone's opening over, but had little support from the rest of the White Ferns' line-up.

New Zealand only managed six boundaries after Devine was bowled by Dani Gibson at the end of the ninth over, though they curiously left veteran Suzie Bates unused at number nine.

Bell finished with an impressive 2-23 while Linsey Smith bowled a remarkable spell of 1-10, but her fellow left-arm spinner Ecclestone was targeted as she conceded 34 from three wicketless overs.

The preceding one-day international series was drawn 1-1, and three-match T20 series continues on Saturday at Canterbury.

England make early World Cup statement

Earlier this week, England's World Cup preparations were dealt a blow with captain Nat Sciver-Brunt's calf injury ruling her out of this series and the following three against India.

They have been guilty of relying too much on Sciver-Brunt's batting brilliance in recent years, which will add an element of added pleasure for Charlotte Edwards as she watched two 21-year-olds put together a mature, match-winning stand.

Capsey, who usually bats at number three, was opening for the first time for England in this format but stepped up seamlessly as Wyatt-Hodge awaits the birth of her child.

She played to her strengths by dismantling New Zealand's pace attack flawlessly, including back-to-back sixes off Jess Kerr in the 15th over, while calmly negotiating the spinners with singles.