Chester-le-Street, United Kingdom:
England Twenty20 international debutant Brydon Carse took three wickets on his Durham home ground to set up a seven-wicket win over New Zealand in the series opener at Chester-le-Street on Wednesday.
The 28-year-old South Africa-born paceman, in for the injured John Turner, returned fine figures of 3-23 from his maximum four overs as New Zealand were held to a modest 139-9.
Left-arm quick Luke Wood also took three wickets, following an expensive first over of the match that cost 18 runs, on his way to 3-37.
Twenty20 world champions England made light of the chase, finishing on 143-3 with six overs to spare, as they went 1-0 up in a four-match series.
They lost dangerman Jonny Bairstow to just the second ball of their chase, when he edged New Zealand captain Tim Southee to slip, but otherwise England had few alarms. Dawid Malan made 54 off 42 balls and Harry Brook an unbeaten 43 before Liam Livingstone ended the match in style by hooking Adam Milne high over deep square-leg.
BRIEF SCORES
New Zealand 139-9, 20 overs (B Carse 3-23, L Wood 3-37) v England 143-3, 14 overs (D Malan 54)
Result: England won by 7 wickets
Series: England lead 4-match series 1-0
England’s Dawid Malan celebrates reaching his half century against New Zealand. (Reuters)
