Capsey hits unbeaten 74 as England beat New Zealand by seven wickets

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.

Promoted to open in the absence of Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Capsey struck three sixes in her knock as the hosts 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.

Earlier, New Zealand, who will be defending their T20 title when the tournament begins in June, reached 136-7 after losing Georgia Plimmer to the first ball of the game, bowled by Lauren Bell.

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

Bell finished with 2-23 while Linsey Smith bowled a 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 the 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 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 as Wyatt-Hodge awaits the birth of her child.

She played to her strengths by dismantling New Zealand's pace attack, including back-to-back sixes off Jess Kerr in the 15th over, while negotiating the spinners with singles.

After fellow opener Sophia Dunkley skied a catch for eight and Maia Bouchier was cleaned up by Bree Illing, Capsey added 43 with former captain Knight before Kemp injected some late energy into the chase with her 20-ball knock as the threat of rain loomed.

With the ball, the roles of England's attack are clear. Bell continues to shine in her leadership role while Smith dominated the powerplay, claiming the key scalp of skipper Melie Kerr, who was caught at mid-off which may have contributed to the rest of the batters' timid approach to the spinner.

However, Ecclestone was also targeted by New Zealand in the third ODI at Cardiff which could be a trend used by opposition sides at the World Cup.

Devine was immediately on the attack with those three massive leg-side blows, but the return of Gibson and Kemp to bowling after their respective back injuries ticks off another key part of Edwards' puzzle.