Knight brilliance leads England past New Zealand in T20 opener

England captain and Maia Bouchier strike their way to tourists’ third straight win on the road in international T20s

England began their tour of New Zealand with a comfortable victory in the first T20 international in Dunedin.
After Tammy Beaumont finally won her 100th T20 cap for England, Captain Heather Knight bludgeoned a brilliant 63 off 39 balls and Maia Bouchier hit an unbeaten 43 as England set the home side 161 to win in bright but nippy conditions on the South Island’s coast.
Susie Bates, the New Zealand captain, top scored with 65 from the start of the order – but the tourists choked off their chase in the middle overs with England’s Lauren Bell taking two wickets in the pick of the bowling.
England have come to New Zealand seeking consistency and confidence ahead of this year’s T20 World Cup in Bangladesh, following an indifferent past year.
Last year they battled to a draw in an engaging Ashes series against Australia on home soil and beat India in a 20-over series in December – but they endured a disappointing semi-final exit at the T20 World Cup and a defeat to Sri Lanka at home in a three-match T20 series last summer.
They also arrived here missing key players, including Nat Sciver-Brunt, Sophie Ecclestone, Alice Capsey and Danni Wyatt, all of whom are playing in the Women’s Premier League instead.
England’s recent struggles against spin seemed to have reared up again as Beaumont fell to the left-arm orthodox of Fran Jones in the fifth over.
But Sophia Dunkley, Bouchier and Knight combined to pull England from 27 for one to 152 for two.
Dunkley hit six fours on her way to 32 before being caught behind off Lea Tahuhu, and Bouchier proved she can step up in England’s middle order, anchoring a fine partnership with her captain that put on 91 runs.
There were only eight balls of the innings remaining when Knight was eventually out, stumped by Izzy Gaze off Jess Kerr’s medium pace, before wicketkeeper Amy Jones was run out at the non-striker’s end with three balls to go.
The home side began their chase slowly. After losing Gaze for a two-ball duck on the third ball of the innings, the tourists restricted New Zealand to just two boundaries off the first four overs, with England’s opening bowlers – Bell and spinner Charlie Dean – putting on the squeeze.
Bates showed her class and power, striking three fours in a single over off Lauren Filer – who was playing in only her fourth T20 international. The veteran local hero, 36, aided by a resolute knock from Georgia Plimmer, helped New Zealand recover to 109 for 3.
But now requiring more than 17 an over, New Zealand were struck by a double blow from England as the touring side took two wickets in four balls – first Bell had Bates caught by Dunkley, then Mikaela Grieg was run out on her first ball by Beaumont.
Needing 37 off the last over was beyond Brooke Halliday and Jess Kerr, allowing England to celebrate their third straight win on the road in T20 internationals.