Summary

  • England beat New Zealand by six wickets to take unassailable 3-0 lead in five-match series

  • Alice Capsey makes unbeaten 67 off 60 balls to guide England home with four balls to spare

  • Freya Kemp hits 16 not out in eight-ball cameo

  • Kiwis captain Sophie Devine top-scores with unbeaten 58 in their 141-8

  • Sophie Ecclestone pick of England's bowlers with 4-25

  • Watch highlights on BBC iPlayer from 23:15 BST

Live Reporting

Tom Mallows

  1. Cricket journalist Raf Nicholson: I find it bizarre that England would deliberately play a match without their captain in practice for a random scenario which might never happen, while simultaneously refusing to engage in any actual succession planning for when Knight retires.

  2. NZ 17-1

    Here's Lauren Filer's dismissal of Georgia Plimmer from a few moments ago.

    Meanwhile, Amelia Kerr is off the mark with crisp slice through point for four over Filer.

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

    For the wicket of Georgia Plimmer it was just genuine pace. That is the X-factor of Lauren Filer. She has the ability to pick up good players just through sheer pace.

  4. NZ 13-1

    A bit of buffet bowling from left-arm seamer Freya Kemp at the end of her over as she bowls a gentle full toss which Suzie Bates heaves over mid-on for four. A little agricultural, but very effective.

  5. Daniel Norcross
    BBC Test Match Special commentator on BBC Sounds

    I would love to see England stretched here. You feel for that to happen it is going to need the runs to come between Suzie Bates, Amelia Kerr and Sophie Devine.

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

    That is an excellent piece of batting.

  7. NZ 9-1

    Freya Kemp pitches it up with the third ball of her opening over, but Suzie Bates gets back deep into her crease and oozes a superb drive straight down the ground for four.

    Classy shot.

  8. Daniel Norcross
    BBC Test Match Special commentator on BBC Sounds

    It was an attempted pull I think but it came onto her too quickly. As easy as you like, England have their first wicket.

  9. wicket

    WICKET

    Plimmer c Sciver-Brunt 0 (NZ 5-1)

    An early wicket for England as Lauren Filer fizzes one through which hurries Georgia Plimmer and gets big on the Kiwi opener. Plimmer ends up spooning a top edge and Nat Sciver-Brunt pouches an easy catch.

  10. NZ 4-0

    Lauren Filer goes a tad full and Suzie Bates crunches a drive straight down the ground for four off the first ball of the match. Filer stumbles in a heap on the pitch on her follow through.

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

    I think New Zealand play their best form of cricket, their best style, and you still lose that's okay. At the moment it feels like that 'oh, not again'. They need to take the game on in a smart way, not just ridiculous boundaries but intelligent cricket.

  12. Daniel Norcross
    BBC Test Match Special commentator on BBC Sounds

    I am slightly surprised that England didn't opt to bat first.

  13. The players dash through a guard of honour of some youngsters waving St George's crosses and out into ground. There's one flag of New Zealand tagged on at the end, though.

    Lauren Filer will open the bowling for England.

  14. New Zealand skipper Sophie Devine: "We were looking to have a bat so it's worked out quite well. Hopefully there's run in the pitch, and are happy to have a bat. It's worked out all right.

    "We have identified it's been small margins and if we can restrict them better with small chunks of pressure. It's about extending that for longer periods of time and holding our nerve.

    "We know this England team have threats throughout but if we put pressure on with bat and ball we are in with a good shout."

  15. Teams

    England: Sophia Dunkley, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Nat Sciver-Brunt (captain), Amy Jones (wk), Freya Kemp, Danielle Gibson, Charlie Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, Sarah Glenn, Lauren Filer.

    New Zealand: Suzie Bates, Georgia Plimmer, Amelia Kerr, Sophie Devine (captain), Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Izzy Gaze (wk), Hannah Rowe, Leigh Kasperek, Molly Penfold, Fran Jonas.

  16. England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt: "I think the wicket is going to be nice all evening. It will be good to put some pressure on the batters, and chase a good score.

    "Finding the balance of the skills in the the XI is important. Everyone is raring to go."

  17. England win toss and bowl

    Nat Sciver-Brunt and Sophie Devine at the tossGetty Images

    A few moments ago England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt, standing as Heather Knight takes a rest, gave the coin a flick and New Zealand counterpart Sophie Devine called heads.

    It came down a tail and Sciver-Brunt decided to stick the White Fern into bat.

    Sciver-Brunt has described Knight's decision to sit this one out as "a bit of what if planning for the World Cup" which will allow them to "adapt as we go".

  18. Welcome...

    Heather Knight, Sophie Ecclestone and Nat Sciver-BruntGetty Images

    Good evening.

    England's cricketers are in a happy place at the moment after an impressive summer so far.

    Out of 10 completed matches, England have won all 10. They will want to add to that perfect 10 with another victory against New Zealand in the third T20 international from Kent this evening.

    Stick with us over the next few hours to see what this Canterbury tale has in store for us.