Dawid Malan’s 54 runs from 42 deliveries saw England canter to a seven-wicket victory over New Zealand in their first IT20 at the Seat Unique Riverside Stadium.
Malan was the anchor for England as New Zealand could not find the answer to him in their bowling attack, a huge six bringing up his 40-ball half-century before he finally fell at the hands of Lockie Ferguson (1-34).
Harry Brook (43no) and Will Jacks (22) were England’s other main contributors with the bat, Brook hitting three sixes and two fours as he helped England reach their target in the 14th over.
It was also a day to remember for Brydon Carse on England debut as he took 3-23, dismissing Finn Allen (21), Adam Milne (10), and Ish Sodhi (16) as New Zealand struggled to 139-9.
Carse and Wood brilliant with the ball | Malan and Brook combine with the bat
After setting England a target of 140, Tim Southee (1-25) opened the bowling for New Zealand and made an immediate impact to dismiss Jonny Bairstow (4) on his white-ball return, the England opener nicking to slip and Daryl Mitchell waiting to take the catch.
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Jonny Bairstow falls early after edging it straight to slip for four
It was not long though until Jacks got motoring, two fours and a six from Ferguson’s first over helping the scoreboard to tick along nicely.
Malan then got in on the action with three fours in a row in the fifth over, a total of nine boundaries and two sixes bringing England to 61-1 at the end of the powerplay.
Straight after the powerplay New Zealand got their breakthrough as Allen caught Jacks from Ish Sodhi’s (1-23) delivery but Malan kept England firing, Brook then joining in on the action as he quickly cantered to 16 from 10 deliveries, successive sixes helping him on his way.
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Harry Brook crunches Ish Sodhi for two huge maximums in a row
Not long after reaching a half-century from 40 deliveries, Malan was dismissed with a sloppy shot to mid-on from Ferguson’s ball, Mitchell ready and waiting to take the catch.
However, Brook then took over as the main man and England’s target was easily reached in the 14th over as back-to-back fours from Brook were followed by a huge six from Liam Livingstone (10no) to seal the win.
The foundations for England’s batting attack were laid by some brilliant bowling despite New Zealand got off to a flying start through Allen (21), three sixes in the first over putting England and Luke Wood (3-37) under pressure.
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Finn Allen fires three sixes in a row during the first over of the 1st T20 against England
However, it was not long until England wrestled back the momentum, a change of ends for Wood bringing about the wicket of Devon Conway (3) and Tim Seiefert (9), Carse striking in between on debut to take out dangerman Allen and leave New Zealand 38-3 at the end of the powerplay.
It was then time for Moeen Ali (1-11) to get in on the action to dismiss Mark Chapman (11) in the eighth over, Livingstone then making an immediate impact to get rid of Mitchell (7) and leave New Zealand floundering on 75-5.
Adil Rashid’s (12-18) only wicket saw Mitchell Santner caught by Wood at point in the 15th over, a brilliant diving catch from Sam Curran from a Wood delivery then taking out New Zealand’s main hope Glenn Phillips (41) as they searched for runs with just over three overs remaining.
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Sam Curran pulls off a sensational catch by diving full length to remove Glenn Phillips for 41
New Zealand tried to fight back in Livingstone’s final over as they added 12, Sodhi (16) finding his rhythm, but the man on debut, Carse, could not be stopped as he took the two final wickets of Adam Milne (10) and Sodhi in the final over to leave New Zealand on 139-9 and England with a target of 140 which they easily reached.
What’s next?
Friday 1st September 5:30pm
Thursday 31st August 5:30pm
England’s T20 international series with New Zealand – which is live in full on Sky Sports – continues at Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester on Friday before further games at Edgbaston on Sunday and then Trent Bridge next Tuesday (September 5).
England Women begin a three-game T20 international series against Sri Lanka at Hove on Thursday. The sides will then meet at Chelmsford on Saturday and Derby next Wednesday (September 6) with all games live on Sky Sports.
Watch the second T20 international between England and New Zealand live on Sky Sports Cricket from 5.30pm on Friday (6pm first ball). Stream with NOW for £26 a month for 12 months.
