Summary

  • Capsey hits classy 74 not out in first T20I as opener - report

  • New Zealand post 136-7 after England win toss

  • Devine, who hit Ecclestone for three sixes in an over, top-scores with 45

  • Two wickets each for Bell & Dean

  • England go 1-0 up in three-game series

Have your say on England women this summer

Live Reporting

by Sam Drury & Mike Peter

  1. 6 runs

    NZ 39-2

    Same again!

    Sophie Devine sends another Sophie Ecclestone delivery flying over the leg side boundary.

  2. Melissa Story
    Commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Welcome to the attack, Sophie Ecclestone.

  3. 6 runs

    NZ 33-2

    Lumped over the square boundary!

    Sophie Devine gets the game's first six, heaving new bowler Sophie Ecclestone over the ropes.

  4. Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on Test Match Special

    Sophie Devine will have been thinking 'oh no!' because she didn't get hold of that.

    Not a bad effort from Lauren Bell.

  5. Henry Moeran
    Commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    I think Lauren Bell will be a bit disappointed with that because she got there.

  6. NZ 27-1

    Lauren Bell almost takes another grab!

    Dani Gibson comes on to bowl and Sophie Devine fires just wide of the long reach of Bell, picking up a boundary.

    A Sophie Ecclestone mis-field at mid-off brings Izzy Gaze on strike and she strikes Gibson through the covers for her second four.

  7. Get Involved

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    Linsey SmithPA Media

    On TMS, Linsey Smith has been described as a swing bowler, but I believe her style of bowling was quite popular at the start of the 20th century, and was referred to as "Swerve", a term that clearly is due for a comeback!

    Dominic, Hamburg

  8. NZ 16-2

    Time for Sophie Devine.

    The veteran all-rounder, already retired from ODIs, will depart the international stage after the World Cup.

    She gets off strike immediately via a leg bye.

  9. Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on Test Match Special

    It's the right option against Linsey Smith, try to hit her down the ground but with the tall figure of Lauren Bell, you've got to get it up and over her.

    She didn't quite connect, the bat twisted in her hands as she hit it.

    That's a huge wicket for England. With New Zealand, you know that it's Melie Kerr or Maddy Green have to score most of the runs.

  10. wicket

    WICKET

    M Kerr c Bell b Smith 8 (NZ 13-2)

    Picks out the tallest player on the field!

    Melie Kerr tries to aerially drive Linsey Smith, but she needs to get it higher to get over Lauren Bell.

    The England seamer takes the catch with hands above her head - this is a very strong start for England.

  11. NZ 13-1

    Now Melie Kerr sends one over the ropes.

    She whips Lauren Bell's delivery aerially through the fine leg region, beating the sprawling Linsey Smith for a one-bounce four.

  12. How's stat?!

    Kieran Parmley
    CricViz analyst

    BellReuters

    Lauren Bell is a much improved bowler in the powerplay in recent years, taking 21 powerplay wickets at an average of just 19 since the start of 2025.

    From 2021 to 2024 Bell averaged 30 with the ball in the powerplay.

  13. NZ 7-1

    Better from Izzy Gaze.

    Lauren Bell drops a delivery shot and Gaze pumps it to the leg-side boundary with a pull shot.

    The game's first four.

  14. Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on Test Match Special

    Well bowled but it's not great batting from Izzy Gaze. You know exactly what Linsey Smith is going to do, swing the ball in towards you.

  15. NZ 2-1

    Maiden in the powerplay!

    Izzy Gaze can't get Linsey Smith away - the left-arm spinner is straight into the groove having been left out in the ODIs.

  16. Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on Test Match Special

    Lauren Bell has got the ball to shape nicely. She gets it to swing late.

  17. Henry Moeran
    Commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    That was a rather desperate manoeuvre from Izzy Gaze to try and make something happen.

  18. NZ 2-1

    Melie Kerr gets off the mark straight away with a nicely timed two off her legs.

    Nothing off the rest of the over - Kerr tries to retain the strike off the over's final ball but is sent back, while Maia Bouchier's throw misses the stumps at the non-striker's end.

  19. Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on Test Match Special

    Lauren BellGetty Images

    Thick inside edge onto the stumps. It was probably there to defend into the off side and the new opening partnership has not worked for New Zealand.

  20. Henry Moeran
    Commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Lauren Bell strikes immediately. Plimmer swipes the bat at the air as England come together in the huddle.