England have recovered from the brink of collapse to earn a four-wicket win in the opening one-day international against the White Ferns in Wellington on Monday.
The tourists stemmed a fast start by the New Zealanders to restrict them to a total of 207 in 48.2 overs, before recovering from 79/6 to eventually cruise home with 8.4 overs to spare and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Amy Jones (92no off 83 balls) was the stand-out for England, scoring an undefeated 130-run seventh-wicket partnership in tandem Charlie Dean (42no off 70) to rescue her team's stumbling chase.
Meanwhile, it was a familiar story for the White Ferns, who once again made a strong start until dramatically falling off the pace once the top order had departed.
Opener Suzie Bates made her way to 50, before being caught behind, with the Ferns still reasonably well placed at 90/1 after 21 overs.
Bernadine Bezuidenhout and Amelia Kerr (24) steered them to 148/3 in the 35th over, until Kerr's departure sparked the regular fall of wickets and a below-par total.
Captain Kerr - filling in for injured Sophie Devine – was the pick of the NZ bowlers, finishing with 2/46.
The second match of the series takes place in Hamilton on Thursday.
