England Dominates New Zealand in T20 Opener

First T20, Southampton

England 197-3 (20 overs): Wyatt 76 (51); Tahuhu 2-33  

New Zealand 138-9 (20 overs): Bates 43 (33); Glenn 3-16  

England won by 59 runs

England continued their dominance over New Zealand with a decisive 59-run victory in the first T20 at Southampton. Following their 3-0 ODI series win, England set a formidable target of 197-3, led by Danni Wyatt's 76 and Nat Sciver-Brunt's 47. 

New Zealand, facing their highest-ever chase in T20s, started strong but collapsed from 63-1 to 67-6. Jess Kerr's 38 from 25 balls provided some resistance, but they ended at 138-9. Sarah Glenn's crucial 10th over, where she took three wickets, including Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine, turned the game in England's favour. 

England's experimental strategy of fielding four spinners paid off, with Glenn taking 3-16 and Charlie Dean contributing 2-28. Linsey Smith and Sophie Ecclestone also claimed a wicket each. England's total was their highest against New Zealand in T20s, bolstered by Freya Kemp's unbeaten 26.

New Zealand had hoped to reset after the ODI series, but England's aggressive batting, particularly from Wyatt and Sciver-Brunt, set the tone. Despite a few dropped catches towards the end, England's superior performance highlighted the growing disparity between the two teams. The series continues in Hove on Tuesday.