Alice Capsey Fires England To Victory Over New Zealand In First Match Of T20 Series

Alice Capsey’s unbeaten 74 runs from 51 balls inspired England to a comfortable seven-wicket victory over New Zealand to go 1-0 up in the T20 series.

Moved up to open in the absence of Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Capsey hit three sixes in her brilliant innings as England reached their target of 137 with 16 balls to spare.

Capsey added 64 from 35 balls for the third wicket with all-rounder Freya Kemp, who finished unbeaten on 31, to complete a comfortable chase which kicks off their T20 World Cup preparations.

Reigning T20 World Cup champions struggled to a score of 136-7 after losing taliswoman Georgia Plimmer to the very first ball of the game, bowled by Lauren Bell.

Despite a disappointing innings, Sophie Devine put on a divine display, scoring 45 runs from 22 balls, including three sixes from Sophie Ecclestone’s opening over, but struggled to galvanise the rest of the White Ferns.

New Zealand only managed six boundaries after Devine was bowled by Dani Gibson at the end of the ninth over, though they curiously left veteran Suzie Bates unused at number nine.

Bell finished with an impressive 2-23 while Linsey Smith bowled a remarkable spell of 1-10, but her fellow left-arm spinner Ecclestone was targeted as she conceded 34 from three wicketless overs.

Earlier this week, England’s World Cup preparations were dealt a massive blow after an injury to Nat Sciver-Brunt’s calf has ruled the captain out of this series and the following three matches against India.

They have been guilty of relying too much on Sciver-Brunt’s batting brilliance in recent years, which will add an element of pleasure for Charlotte Edwards as she watched two 21-year-olds put together a mature, match-winning stand.

Capsey, who usually bats at number three, was opening for the first time for England in this format but stepped up seamlessly as Wyatt-Hodge awaits the birth of her child.

Capsey was superb and played to her strengths on her way to dominating New Zealand’s pace attack, including back-to-back sixes in the 15th over, all but completing the run chase.

Though it remains unclear who will make way in the side when Sciver-Brunt and Wyatt-Hodge return, World Cup winner Alex Hartley says England must find a way to keep Capsey in.

“I think she is in England’s best XI, the way she’s adapted her game,” Hartley said.

“When she came onto the scene as a 16-year-old, she set the world alight; we all knew the talent that she had then. She had a little bit of a dip in form, she was on TV more, and players started to work her out.

“But she’s adapted her game, she was brilliant in the 50-over World Cup, and she got England out of a lot of trouble a number of times.”

“That three-month block at the beginning of the year was amazing, just to get some proper skills development, which I’ve probably not had for the last couple of years,” said Capsey.

“I’ve worked on quite a few different areas of my game; I feel really comfortable at the crease, really calm – I think it showed today, I think I was two off eight, and just that composure to know I can catch up and really believe that as well.”