Cricket: White Ferns lose Twenty20 warm-up

England have beaten New Zealand by seven wickets with seven balls to spare in their first World Twenty20 warm-up cricket match in Taunton early today (NZT).

Asked to bat first, New Zealand crumbled from 80 for two to 122 for eight at the end of their 20 overs at the King's College ground.

Openers Aimee Watkins and Lucy Doolan scored a brisk 38 and 20 respectively.

England captain Charlotte Edwards and Jenny Gunn contributed to New Zealand's collapse, taking two for 15 and two for 13 respectively.

England also made an aggressive start to their run chase with Sarah Taylor and Edwards adding 73 for the first wicket to set up a comfortable victory.

Taylor smashed 44 from 36 deliveries while Edwards was unbeaten at the close on 55 from 44 balls.

Suzie Bates had the best figures of two for 17.

"We put ourselves under pressure at times and need to keep working hard to push home the advantage when we get into a good position," said New Zealand coach Gary Stead.

New Zealand play India in their final warm-up match tomorrow (NZT) at Taunton Vale. They open their Cup campaign against Australia on Saturday (NZT).

- NZPA