Opener Jonny Bairstow scored an unbeaten 78 runs to guide England home against an NZ XI in their opening T20 tour match at Lincoln.
Tuning up for their three-match series against the Blackcaps, the visitors won the toss and invited their opponents to bat first.
Blackcaps opener Colin Munro was quickly dimissed for eight runs off eight balls in the third over, and the New Zealand innings relied on a 76-run third-wicket partnership between Anton Devcich (60) and Anaru Kitchen (50 not out) to reach 172/4 off their allotted overs.
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Devcich hit eight boundaries and a six in his 43-ball stay, while Kitchen reached his half century off 36 balls, including two sixes.
Adil Rashid was the pick of the England bowlers, taking 2/25 off his four overs, the most economical of the tourists, who made no contest of their run chase.
Bairstow lost opening partner Tom Banton in the second over, but he and James Vince plundered 19 runs off the next over - Devcich's second with the ball - to put the run rate ahead of schedule.
Fast bowler Lochie Ferguson, returning from a broken thumb, vanquished Vince and Joe Denly in the sixth over, but Bairstow found willing partners in wicketkeeper Sam Billings and all-rounder Sam Curran to see the job done.
Curran (28no) completed the task with a flourish, clearing the boundary in the penultimate over for the winning runs.
After missing their last tour to Sri Lanka, Ferguson showed he was ready to return to the Blackcaps with 3/32 off his four overs.
England will have another hit-out against the NZ XI on Tuesday, before they open their series against the national side on Friday.
Join us at 2pm Friday for live updates of the Blackcaps v England T20 clash.
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