Alice Capsey Leads England To Seven-Wicket Victory Over New Zealand In First T20 At Derby

Alice Capsey hit an unbeaten 74 off 51 balls as England beat New Zealand by seven wickets in the first T20 at Derby, reaching their 137-run target with 16 balls to spare.

“Alice Capsey's unbeaten 74 from 51 balls led England to a comfortable seven-wicket win over New Zealand in the first T20 at Derby”

BBC

Capsey’s chase included three sixes and seven fours, and she added an unbroken 64 off 35 balls with Freya Kemp, who finished unbeaten on 31.

BBC

New Zealand were restricted to 136-7 after Georgia Plimmer was bowled by Lauren Bell with the first ball of the match, and Sophie Devine top-scored for the tourists with 45 off 22 balls.

England’s bowling featured Linsey Smith’s 1-10 from four overs and Bell’s 2-23, while Charlie Dean, standing in for Nat Sciver-Brunt, took 2-29.

The result gave England a 1-0 lead ahead of the second T20 at Canterbury on Saturday and the third at Hove on Bank Holiday Monday, both with 2.30pm starts.

With Danni Wyatt-Hodge absent as she awaits the birth of her first child, Capsey was promoted to open for England in this format, and the BBC said the win “kicks off their T20 World Cup preparations.”

Capsey told the Guardian that “The biggest messaging from them was that I didn’t need to change how I play,” adding that batting her way was “good enough to do the job.”

Sky Sports

The Guardian also noted that the start of the World Cup was “only three weeks away,” and that England’s three T20s against New Zealand and three against India were meant to “polish away any rustiness.”

Nat Sciver-Brunt remained absent with a calf injury, and the BBC said England’s World Cup preparations were dealt a blow earlier this week when her calf injury ruled her out of this series and the following three matches against India.

Alex Hartley, speaking on BBC Test Match Special, said Capsey is “in England's best XI, the way she's adapted her game,” framing her as a player who has adjusted her approach after a dip in form.

England’s bowling plan put Lauren Bell and Linsey Smith in the powerplay, with Smith claiming the scalp of New Zealand captain Melie Kerr, while Ecclestone conceded 34 from three wicketless overs.

“England vs New Zealand, first T20: Alice Capsey hits unbeaten fifty as hosts ramp up World Cup preparations with victory Alice Capsey smashes 74 not out off 51 balls and presses her claims to open for England at upcoming T20 World Cup, live on Sky Sports; left-arm spinner Linsey Smith impresses with the ball as England restrict New Zealand to 136-7 in Derby; second T20 at Canterbury on Saturday (2”

Sky Sports

The BBC reported that it was “unclear who will make way in the side when Sciver-Brunt and Wyatt-Hodge return,” even as it highlighted that Capsey was opening for the first time in this format.

In the Guardian’s account, the “oddest thing of all” was that Ecclestone, described as the world No 2, finished as the most expensive of the six bowlers, raising questions about how Charlotte Edwards might shape her World Cup XI.

The Sky Sports match report said England are playing the White Ferns and then India in three T20s each before beginning their World Cup campaign against Sri Lanka at Edgbaston on June 12.

With the next T20 set for Canterbury on Saturday (2.30pm), the series continues as England try to turn the Derby win into a World Cup statement while New Zealand look to respond after being restricted to 136-7.