First Women's Twenty20 international, Chelmsford:
England 150-5 (20 ovs) beat New Zealand 113 (18.5 ovs) by 37 runs
Match scorecard  Edwards anchored England's innings before being stumped off a wide |
England's women began their season with a comfortable 37-run victory over New Zealand in their first Twenty20 international at Chelmsford. Captain Charlotte Edwards and Claire Taylor (34) set a platform for England with a second-wicket stand of 68. Edwards was stumped for 46 in the penultimate over as they made 150-5. Spin dominated as the Kiwis were bowled out for 113, as Danielle Wyatt took 3-12 and Lydia Greenway starred in the field with four catches and a run-out. New Zealand have been losing finalists in both ICC World Twenty20 tournaments, losing to Australia in the Caribbean in May and to England at Lord's last year. But the Kiwis were second best for long spells at Chelmsford as England's experienced batters set a competitive target before their four-pronged spin attack bowled them to victory. After namesake Sarah Taylor spooned a catch to mid-on in the second over, Claire Taylor had a lucky escape when an attempted slog-sweep off Sophie Devine skied high into the air over mid-wicket - but two hesitant Kiwi fielders left the catch to each other as the ball landed only a few feet from the pitch.  | 606: DEBATE |
Reprieved, Claire Taylor moved around the crease to unsettle the bowlers, and had smashed 34 from 32 balls when she was well caught at long-off by Suzie Bates - who held the chance despite colliding with team-mate Nicola Browne, who crashed to the turf and needed a quick visit from the physio. Laura Marsh provided an entertaining cameo - smashing a full toss from Aimee Watkins over mid-wicket for six before "Dilscooping" the White Ferns skipper over the wicketkeeper's head for four - but she was bowled for 18 as off-spinner Lucy Doolan found some sharp turn. Edwards looked set to bat through the innings before she tried to cut an off-side wide from Sian Ruck and was smartly stumped by Rachel Priest. Although Jenny Gunn was caught first ball at mid-wicket, Greenway cleared the ropes as she and Wyatt scrambled England to the 150 mark. Off-spinner Marsh then took the new ball, and grabbed a wicket with the second ball of the innings as Bates was caught by Greenway at mid-wicket.  Greenway set a women's Twenty20 record with her four catches |
But Watkins and Sara McGlashan went on the attack in the powerplay overs, blasting Katherine Brunt over extra cover for a first-bounce four, although Anya Shrubsole gave Watkins a life when she completely misjudged a chance at long-on. England's four-pronged spin attack began to put the squeeze on the tourists as the boundaries dried up - and both Watkins (24) and McGlashan (25) both holed out in quick succession trying to hit Danielle Hazell over long-on. Hazell (2-19) and left-arm spinner Holly Colvin (1-22) bowled economically in tandem, and Devine was bowled while attempting an agricultural slog across the line at Colvin. The hard-hitting Nicola Browne hit a six into a hospitality marquee, while Liz Perry lofted Wyatt for a straight six before lobbing a catch to mid-wicket where she was pouched by the safe hands of Greenway - who collected her fourth victim of the innings as Browne perished next ball. Kent star Greenway is the first woman to take four catches in a Twenty20 international - a feat only matched by West Indies' Darren Sammy in the men's game, which earned her the player-of-the-match award. Wickets tumbled quickly as Shrubsole trapped Priest leg before wicket first ball, while Doolan flicked her first delivery through mid-wicket for four but was deceived by a slower ball as Shrubsole took a smart return catch. Greenway ran Kate Broadmore out to complete a fielding masterclass, while Wyatt had Maria Fahey stumped to wrap up an impressive win. The next one-dayer takes place at Hampshire's Rose Bowl on Thursday.
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