3 Mar 2021

White Ferns well beaten in opening T20

6:44 pm on 3 March 2021

Another disappointing batting performance has resulted in the White Ferns suffering a heavy seven wicket defeat in the opening T20 international against England in Wellington.

White Fern's Katey Martin slides in against England 2021.

Katey Martin Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The homeside again failed to bat out their overs, dismissed for just 96 with two balls remaining.

England then knocked off their target for the loss of just three wickets and with four overs to spare.

After being asked to bat first the New Zealanders lost captain Sophie Devine in the second over for two and wickets then fell regular as they failed to get any momentum.

"From the very start difficult to lose a wicket early and we just could never really recover," said coach Bob Carter.

"We you're defending a score like that you really need to get the opposition four down for not many and we missed a couple of little chances and England played exceptionally well."

Amy Satterthwaite, who scored a century in the third ODI at the weekend, also went cheaply, while 36 from Katey Martin was the only real resistance to some accurate bowling by the tourists.

In reply the English openers had little trouble finding the gaps and put on 59 runs for the first wicket with Tamsin Beaumont making 25 and Danni Wyatt 33.

Spinner Leigh Kasperek picked up two wickets for the White Ferns.

Carter admits there is plenty to review and work on.

"After a good performance in Dunedin in the last game (winning the third ODI), we've come here and performed poorly and we have to look again at consistency, we're not getting that," said Carter.

The second game of the three match T20 series is in Wellington on FRiday.

England won the ODI series 2-1.