Capsey and Bell impress as England win T20 opener
Earlier, New Zealand - who will be defending their T20 title when the tournament begins in June - trudged to 136-7 after losing Georgia Plimmer to the first ball of the game, bowled by Lauren Bell. Sophie Devine bludgeoned 45 from 22 balls including three sixes from Sophie Ecclestone's opening over, but had little support from the rest of the White Ferns' line-up. 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. The preceding one-day international series was drawn 1-1, and three-match T20 series continues on Saturday at Canterbury. Earlier this week, England's World Cup preparations were dealt a blow with captain Nat Sciver-Brunt's calf injury ruling her 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 added 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. She played to her strengths by dismantling New Zealand's pace attack flawlessly, including back-to-back sixes off Jess Kerr in the 15th over, while calmly negotiating the spinners with singles.
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 on BBC Test Match Special. "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 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. " Capsey believes her game has improved since she had the opportunity to spend time working on her skills, away from the pressures of playing.