NZ 44-0published at 4.1 overs

4.1 overs

Hello... Shrubsole's back, she drops it short and Sophie Devine hammers a towering six over square leg - our first six of the day.

Natalie Germanos
BBC Test Match Special commentator

Ecclestone has been the top wicket-taker in this tri-series, she's had a brilliant series.

England turn to spin in the shape of slow left-armer Sophie Ecclestone, but New Zealand continue to work the Chelmsford boundaries as Devine steers one past mid-on and some fierce Bates cut shots bring her two more fours across this lightning-quick outfield.

England mix their bowling up, immediately giving left-arm pace bowler Katie George the third over, and it's a good start by the Hampshire youngster, with the White Ferns only picking up singles until she drops a couple a little short on the leg side, and Bates flogs them both through square leg for four.

One other thing for teenager George - the umpire has a quiet word with her about running on the wicket.

Having ceded the new ball to Katie George in the final group game at Bristol, England turn back to the familiar figure of pace bowler Katherine Brunt for the second over.

After a couple of singles, Devine rides her luck as she gets an inside edge just past the stumps and away through fine leg for four. But the Kiwi opener then frees her arms to loft Brunt over mid-on for a first-bounce four. However, the over ends with another moral victory for the bowler as another inside edge just misses the stumps.

Devine has a look at a couple of deliveries before rotating the strike with a leg bye - while Bates attempts a sweep shot off the last ball and that's four, but also signalled as leg byes.

So, nothing off the bat means it's a maiden over for Shrubsole.

Anya Shrubsole limbering up with the new ball at the River End, with Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates opening up for New Zealand.

Let's play.

Image source, Getty Images

Lydia Greenway
Ex-England batter on BBC Test Match Special

A huge game, this - the biggest competitive game they'll have before the World T20.

Umpires and players emerge from the pavilion through a tunnel of fluttering flags - some of which threaten to endanger the fielders as the young flag-bearers try to get a high-five with the England players!

Henry Moeran
BBC Test Match Special commentator

It's sunscreen, hats and liquid refreshment today - it's not a ground with a lot of shade, but it's one England love playing at.

Lydia Greenway
Ex-England batter on BBC Test Match Special

England have played a lot at Chelmsford, the boundaries are reasonably short so I think we could see a high-scoring game. PItches have been a bit two-paced here at times but I think the outfield is so dry that once it's past the inner ring, it'll be four runs.

England: Tammy Beaumont, Danielle Wyatt, Sarah Taylor (wk), Natalie Sciver, Heather Knight (capt), Amy Jones, Katherine Brunt, Anya Shrubsole, Danielle Hazell, Sophie Ecclestone, Katie George.

New Zealand*: Suzie Bates (wk), Sophie Devine, Katey Martin (wk), Amy Satterthwaite, Maddy Green, Jess Watkin, Amelia Kerr, Anna Peterson, Leigh Kasperek, Hayley Jensen, Lea Tahuhu.

*we think this is the Kiwi XI - there has been a little confusion between various sources!

Umpires are Neil Bainton and Alex Wharf.

England's women have every right to describe today's venue as "Fortress Chelmsford".

Since 2000, the Essex venue has played host to five women's ODIs and seven women's Twenty20 internationals - and England have won every single one of them, overcoming South Africa (three times), New Zealand (three times), Australia (four times), India and Pakistan.

Image source, Getty Images

Lydia Greenway
Ex-England batter on BBC Test Match Special

Both teams know it's a fantastic opportunity to play under a bit of pressure ahead of the World T20 in the West Indies later this year.

BBC Test Match Special

A quick housekeeping note regarding Test Match Special today.

Coverage will begin shortly, at 14:45 BST - but only on the BBC Sport website & app (listen by clicking the "play" icon at the top of this page).

BBC Radio 5 live sports extra will join the party after today's Formula 1 coverage ends - approximately 16:00 BST.

England skipper Heather Knight: "We'd have batted too - but we've got to bowl well first. We've had successes here, and today's the perfect chance to practice winning under pressure. We're unchanged."

New Zealand captain Suzie Bates: "We're going to have a bat, it looks like a really good cricket wicket and we want to put them under pressure. We've picked two off-spinners. We've been disappointed with the way we've played against England, so we want to bring the attitude we had against South Africa."

News from the middle is that New Zealand skipper Suzie Bates has called correctly - she says they'll bat first.

Afternoon, everyone.It's all eyes on Chelmsford for the final of this exciting women's T20 tri-series, which has broken records and enthralled audiences out west in Taunton and Bristol.

With South Africa eliminated, it's down to England and New Zealand - so who will come out on top?

Image source, Getty Images