Summary

  • England beat New Zealand by 59 runs to win first of five T20s in Southampton

  • White Ferns restricted to 138-9 with Sarah Glenn taking 3-16

  • Impressive England post 197-3 with Danni Wyatt making 76 off 51 balls & Nat Sciver-Brunt smashing 47 off 23 - watch some of the best shots

  • England played four frontline spinners as they build towards T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in October

  • Listen to uninterrupted online-only commentary at top of page

  • Get involved: #bbccricket on X, via WhatsApp on 03301 231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

Live Reporting

Timothy Abraham & Ffion Wynne

  1. Frankie Mackay
    Ex-New Zealand all-rounder on BBC Sounds

    England celebrate the run out of Georgia PlimmerPA Media

    Georgia Plimmer does like to scamper between the wickets, it's her way of getting her innings up and running. But that's her third run out in four innings in this series so far.

    It's a horror start.

  2. wicket

    WICKET

    Plimmer run out (Sciver-Brunt) 1 (NZ 12-1)

    A bonkers run for Georgia Plimmer who puts in a full length dive at the non-striker's end but is well short of her ground. Fine fielding from Nat Sciver-Brunt who collects the ball and underarms it at the stumps with a direct hit.

  3. Emily Windsor
    BBC Test Match Special commentator on BBC Sounds

    That was a panic run.

  4. Umpire review

    Freya Kemp with some decent lengths in the remainder of the over. Very little margin for error on this pitch.

    Final ball of the over and Georgia Plimmer has taken on a quite ridiculous single and Nat Sciver-Brunt picks up cleanly and hits the stumps. This looks out.

  5. Frankie Mackay
    Ex-New Zealand all-rounder on BBC Sounds

    The decision to open with Freya Kemp really speaks volumes of England's aggressive intent. She hasn't bowled much with that back injury but that's probably why they're thinking, we'll throw her in the mix early.

  6. Emily Windsor
    BBC Test Match Special commentator on BBC Sounds

    Good use of the crease from Suzie Bates, stepping across her stumps which allows her to open up the gap on the leg side.

  7. NZ 11-0

    Ball nine and New Zealand pick up their first boundary. Suzie Bates steps across her stumps and opens her shoulders before muscling the ball into the leg side for four.

  8. It's not Linsey Smith but the left-arm seam of all-rounder Freya Kemp for England.

  9. Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Sounds

    I'd love to see Linsey Smith in the powerplay. I think that's when she could be most effective and then again at the death. That would give Sophie Ecclestone much more freedom to bowl in the middle and her spell will be longer. England will need all four of these spinners in Bangladesh.

  10. NZ 5-0

    Suzie Bates with a steady start, working Nat Sciver-Brunt into the gaps for a couple of twos before a dab into the covers to keep the strike.

  11. Frankie Mackay
    Ex-New Zealand all-rounder on BBC Sounds

    I would love to see Sophie Devine walking out with Suzie Bates at the top of the order and facing the majority of the balls.

  12. Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Sounds

    It is a shame not to see Sophie Devine opening with Suzie Bates. I would love to see that. Can she come in three if they use a wicket early? She is the player that is going to win you games of cricket.

  13. Nat Sciver-Brunt to start for England. Four spinners picked today don't forget.

  14. Just three the wickets to fall.

    England's fifth highest total in T20 internationals. New Zealand have never chased a total of this size.

    The players are heading out on to the field. We're nearly ready to get back under way again.

  15. Plenty of tall buildings in that England innings.

    They hit 28 fours and two sixes in the end. That's a boundary every four balls in essence.

    Manhattan for England's 197-3 against New Zealand in the first T20BBC Sport/CricViz

  16. Some superb strokeplay from England's top order. Here's the pick of Maia Bouchier, Danni Wyatt and Nat Sciver-Brunt this afternoon.

  17. Thanks, Ffion.

    Some smashing batting by England - it's their best score ever in T20s against New Zealand, in fact.

    Do the White Ferns have a hope here?

  18. Another tough outing for New Zealand's bowlers.

    Maia Bouchier and Danni Wyatt added 61 for the first wicket, Wyatt went on to smash 76 from 51 balls, Nat Sciver-Brunt added 47 from 23 and Freya Kemp finished it with 26 from 17.

    England are strong favourites at the halfway mark. Here's Timothy Abraham to take you through the rest.

  19. Frankie Mackay
    Ex-New Zealand all-rounder on BBC Sounds

    The wicket looks really flat and like an absolute belter. The outfield is fast and the boundary aren't the biggest in the world.

    New Zealand have some real power hitters and this score just gives them the freedom to go for it.

  20. Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Sounds

    England were absolutely outstanding. They had partnerships all the way through.

    New Zealand didn't bowl too badly in stages of the game, but England really took the game on.

    England have a real focus on the World Cup in Bangladesh in October and if that is anything to go by they'll be competitive.