Alice Capsey 74* blazes trail in seven-wicket England win
New Zealand fall short of competitive total despite Sophie Devine's 45 off 22 balls
New Zealand fall short of competitive total despite Sophie Devine's 45 off 22 balls
Scorer: K Vairavan | Commentator: Vithushan Ehantharajah
9:27pm Right, that's all from us here. Join us on Saturday for the second T20I in Canterbury!
9:25pm And finally, here is England stand-in skipper Charlie Dean: "It's brilliant to start the series like that. It was a tricky surface to field on so to put in a fielding performance like that was great.
On Freya Kemp's two overs and unbeaten 31: "Her as a seam bowling allrounder brings so much to her team. For her to contribute with both to our team hopefully gives her a lot of confidence going forward."
9:22pm New Zealand skipper Melie Kerr: "I thought 140 would have given us a chance to get in the game. But that middle phase after Sopgie got out, it just looked hard to score for our group. Would have loved 150, 160. You don't want to play your best game now. But it obviously hurts.
On Suzie Bates batting at No.9: "We've got a long batting order with someone like her batting at 9. For us, we know that her experience and her overs she can bowl - in the powerplay and at the death. Today she didn't get the overs but on another day she might get four overs. She's willing to take on a new role for the group."
9:19pm A show of intent from England and Capsey as they build-up for the upcoming World Cup. Unsurprisingly, Alice Capsey is the player of the match...
"It's a completely new role. With this England team at the moment, there is so much competition for spots that when you get an opportunity, it's important to take it. It's always nice to get the first win out of the bag.
"There's been lots of hard work. That three-month block at the start of the year was really great to have, just to get some skill development which I haven't had for a couple of years. I've been amazingly supported by the staff here and to put it into practice here was really nice.
"It's the first go with that bat, so I think I'll be going with that for the rest of the series!"
Mair on for the last rites
Capsey keeps the strike...
Batter makes strong case in absence of Wyatt-Hodge as tournament opener looms
New Zealand fall short of competitive total despite Sophie Devine's 45 off 22 balls
World Cup last-chance a fleeting thought as big picture takes over for White Ferns seamer