England continued their dominance over New Zealand with a crushing 59-run win in the opening T20 at Southampton.
Having won the preceding one-day international series 3-0, the hosts started the shorter format in style by smashing a ruthless 197-3.
It would have been New Zealand’s highest-ever run chase in the format, and they started confidently before a huge collapse from 63-1 to 67-6.
From there, only Jess Kerr’s sprightly 38 from 25 balls saved the White Ferns from total capitulation as they limped their way to 138-9 from 20 overs.
Leg-spinner Sarah Glenn changed the game with three wickets in the 10th over, including the key scalps of Suzie Bates on 43 and captain Sophie Devine for a duck.
England boldly selected four spinners as an experiment for the upcoming T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in October, adding left-armer Linsey Smith to the attack with Glenn, Sophie Ecclestone and Charlie Dean.
Glenn starred with 3-16, Dean took 2-28 while Smith and Ecclestone claimed a wicket each as New Zealand suffered their biggest T20 defeat to England in terms of margin of runs.
England’s total, also their highest in T20s against New Zealand, was set up by Danni Wyatt’s entertaining 76 from 51 balls and Nat Sciver-Brunt’s 47 from 23 as the pair added 82 for the second wicket.
Freya Kemp’s unbeaten 26 from 17 balls then propelled England to just shy of 200 as New Zealand’s bowlers wilted on a good batting pitch.
The five-match series continues at Hove on Tuesday.