England women beat New Zealand in Twenty20 international
- Published
First Twenty20 international, Wellington |
England 81-4 (17.4 overs) beat New Zealand 80-9 (20 overs) by six wickets |
England women eased to a six-wicket victory over New Zealand in Wellington in the first of five Twenty20 internationals.
After being put into bat, the hosts never threatened to make an imposing total, limply batting through their full allocation to finish on 80-9.
Anya Shrubsole (5-11) was the pick of the bowlers, supported by Danni Hazell who took 3-15 from her four overs.
England were 44-4 in reply but Sarah Taylor's unbeaten 31 saw them home.
England captain Charlotte Edwards has challenged her team to go through 2012 unbeaten as the reigning 50-over and T20 champions look to successfully defend their title in the shorter format in the autumn.
After the five T20 matches and three one-day internationals against New Zealand, they host West Indies and India in the summer before the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka, with India hosting the 50-over tournament in 2013.