England celebrate another wicket

Some solid batting and a brilliant fielding display gave England's women a 45-run victory in their first one-day international against New Zealand.

Revenge was sweet for the hosts who had been beaten by the Kiwis on Thursday in the inaugural Twenty20 international.

On Friday, the English girls were indebted to Laura Newton's well-paced half-century and a superb performance with bat and ball from Rosalie Birch.

New ball bowlers Lucy Pearson and Jenny Gunn also produced the goods.

Clare Connor won the toss for the hosts and elected to bat first.

A second-wicket partnership of 78 between Newton (57) and Claire Taylor (41) was instrumental in allowing England to reach 221-9 in their 50 overs as each girl struck six boundaries.

Isa Guha takes a catch at fine leg to remove Maria Fahey

Birch and Lydia Greenway then had licence to score freely in the middle order, and neither disappointed.

New Zealand struggled from the off in their reply. Star batter Rebecca Rolls was dismissed by Pearson in the first over, and Gunn gave nothing away, conceding just 16 runs from her 10 overs.

Pearson also collected the important scalp of Haidee Tiffen for just 11 and the required run rate escalated as England held all their catches and proved razor-sharp in the field.

Birch (3-45) and Isa Guha (2-28) rampaged through the middle order and Pearson finished with 3-33.

For New Zealand, 20-year-old opener Maria Fahey battled away for 64 but used up 120 deliveries getting there and was also involved in the run-out that spelt the end for skipper Maia Lewis.

England Women: N J Shaw, C M Edwards, L K Newton, S C Taylor, C J Connor (Capt), L Greenway, R A Birch, J Gunn, J Smit (Wkt), L C Pearson, I T Guha.