Cricket: White Ferns lose 20/20 clash

The New Zealand women's cricket team opened their tour with a 37-run loss to England in a Twenty20 international at Chelmsford today.

The White Ferns managed just 113 chasing England's 150 for five after losing their last six wickets for 13 runs.

Despite the early loss of Suzie Bates, New Zealand's runchase began solidly enough as Sara McGlashan, with 25, and Aimee Watkins, 24, put on 47 for the second wicket but the innings unravelled once Liz Perry, 21, and Nicola Browne, 15, were dismissed off successive balls by spinner Danielle Wyatt.

Wyatt ended with excellent figures of three for 12 off 11 balls, while fellow spinners Holly Colvin and Danielle Hazell collected another three wickets between them.

Earlier, captain Charlotte Edwards was the mainstay of the England innings with a classy 46 from 50 deliveries.

She was well supported by Claire Taylor, who struck 32 off 34 as the pair put on 68 for the second wicket.

The second Twenty20 match is at the Rose Bowl in Southampton on Friday (NZT) ahead of the third game at Hove on Saturday.

Following that the teams will contest a five-match one-day series.

- NZPA