Capsey fires England to win over New Zealand in first T20

England ramped up preparations for their home T20 World Cup with a seven-wicket victory over New Zealand in the series opener at Derby as Alice Capsey scored a sparkling unbeaten half-century;

England are playing the White Ferns and then India in three T20 internationals each before beginning their World Cup campaign against Sri Lanka at Edgbaston on June 12, live on Sky Sports

Capsey - with 74 not out off 51 balls - led the way with the bat during Wednesday's win as the home side reached their target of 137 with 16 balls to spare, taking a 1-0 lead ahead of games at Canterbury on Saturday and Hove on Bank Holiday Monday (both 2.30pm starts).

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Danni Wyatt Hodge's absence as she awaits the birth of her first child presented Capsey with an opportunity to open and the 21-year-old went to strike seven fours and three sixes, sharing a third-wicket stand of 43 with former captain Heather Knight (19) and then an unbroken 64 off 35 balls with Freya Kemp (31no off 20) for the fourth.

Capsey mixed power and innovation while amassing her highest T20I score to date and has now staked a real claim to open at the World Cup.

Other positives included the economical bowling of left-arm spinner Linsey Smith (1-10) and off-spinner Charlie Dean - standing in as captain once again for Nat Sciver-Brunt (calf) - bagging 2-29.

Those efforts, plus a slick fielding performance - not always England's strong suit - and Lauren Bell's 2-23 - which included bowling Georgia Plimmer from the first ball of the match - restricted New Zealand to 136-7.

Sophie Devine top-scored for the tourists with a rollicking 45 off 22 balls, a knock that featured four mighty leg-side sixes.

Three of Devine's maximums came in Sophie Ecclestone's 18-run first over, the sixth of the innings, with England's senior spinner leaking 34 runs from a wicketless three overs at an eye-watering economy rate of 11.33, perhaps a concern as the World Cup looms.

More to follow.