Women's T20 World Cup 2023: England beat New Zealand in final warm-up game

England spinner Sophie Ecclestone bowls in the Women's T20 World Cup warm-up against New ZealandGetty Images

Spinner Sophie Ecclestone bowled four overs after being protected on Monday because of a slight injury

ICC Women's World Cup warm-up, Cape Town

New Zealand 114-9 (20 overs): Bates 36 (35); Ecclestone 3-19, Cross 2-10

England 118-5 (13.5 overs): Dunkley 60* (38); Jensen 2-20, A Kerr 2-24

England won by five wickets

Scorecard

England comfortably beat New Zealand by five wickets in their final warm-up game to ensure they go into the Women's T20 World Cup on a positive note.

After opting to bowl first, England restricted the Kiwis to 114-9 from their 20 overs, with Sophie Ecclestone claiming 3-19 and Kate Cross 2-10.

England then chased the target in 13.5 overs, with opener Sophia Dunkley making an unbeaten 60 from 38 balls.

Their opening game is against West Indies on Saturday (13:00 GMT).

"It has been a great warm-up phase for us, we've got a lot of games under our belts," Ecclestone told BBC Sport.

"West Indies are definitely going to put up a fight. We beat them five out of five in December but they have got the likes of Hayley Matthews, who is an amazing player, so we'll have to play our best cricket."

England used 11 players, having used 12 in their opening warm-up win over South Africa on Monday, with captain Heather Knight, all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt, opener Danni Wyatt and bowler Lauren Bell rested.

New Zealand started well, sharing 33 for the first wicket, before Cross, who went wicketless on Monday, removed Sophie Devine and Bernadine Bezuidenhout in successive balls at the end of the fifth over.

Suzie Bates, who top-scored with 36, shared 26 with Georgia Plimmer before both fell in the space of 11 balls and from there England squeezed and restricted.

Spinners Sarah Glenn and Charlie Dean both took a wicket each, as did Katherine Sciver-Brunt, but England will be most pleased about Ecclestone's return after she played as a specialist batter on Monday.

Lauren Winfield-Hill failed to capitalise on her opportunity at the top of the innings, making just seven, but England broke the back of the chase when Dunkley shared 47 with Alice Capsey, who made 28 off 13 balls.

They were 94-2 but lost stand-in captain Amy Jones (12), Maia Bouchier (one) and Katherine Sciver-Brunt (one) in quick succession, before Dunkley and Ecclestone saw them over the line with more than six overs to spare.

Elsewhere defending champions Australia were shocked by Ireland.

Alyssa Healy retired not out on 62 and Tahlia McGrath 56 as Australia posted 168-3 but Ireland chased it with three wickets in hand and two balls to spare, despite captain Rachel Delaney top-scoring with only 32.

Richa Ghosh made an unbeaten 91 as India, who are in England's group, posted 183-5 against Bangladesh, before restricting them to 131-8, to win by 52 runs.

Laura Wolvaardt hit 65 as South Africa successfully chased 143 against Pakistan, while West Indies beat Sri Lanka by four wickets.

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