WARM-UP T20 1 in Chennai: New Zealand WHITE FERNS 130/6 in 20 overs (Suzie Bates 38, Sophie Devine 40, Amy Satterthwaite 22; Katherine Brunt 2-15, Tash Farrant 1-26) lost to England 131/6 in 20 overs (Sarah Taylor 51, Charlotte Edwards 28, Lydia Greenway 23 not out; Suzie Bates 2-22, Lea Tahuhu 2-10)
The New Zealand WHITE FERNS are underway at the ICC Women's World Twenty20 2016, taking a reshuffled official practice match to the wire in hot Chennai.
Chasing 130 for six, England managed to snatch a last-minute, four-wicket win in the tournament warm-up by scoring 10 runs off the final over, the winning single from Natalie Sciver squeezed off Suzie Bates's last delivery.
In-form Bates had earlier hit the ground running with 38 off 33 balls and Sophie Devine contributed 40 to shore up the WHITE FERNS' innings, after England had won the toss and elected to field in the rescheduled evening match.
The dynamic duo put on 65 for the second wicket before Amy Satterthwaite boosted the total with a 14-ball 22 towards the end, which included two boundaries and a six.
Bustling seamer Katherine Brunt had been the star of the show with the ball for England, conceding just 15 runs and taking two wickets in her four overs. But England made a poor start in reply with the bat, losing opener Amy Jones off the second ball of the innings.
Katherine Brunt. Photosport/NZC
Vastly experienced skipper Charlotte Edwards and star batsman Sarah Taylor put on 75 runs for the second wicket, however, to steady the England ship.
Edwards, the 36-year-old veteran leading her team in a fifth successive World Twenty20, supported with 28 as Taylor chalked up 51 before she was bowled by Bates's first delivery.
The all-round touch continues for captain Suzie Bates. NZC
England was cruising at 75 for one in the 12th when four wickets fell in the space of just 26 runs as the WHITE FERNS bounced back to make it game on: 101 for five in 16.1 overs.
Bates conceded two boundaries in the final over and, even though she grabbed a wicket off the fifth ball with the scores tied, England squeezed through at the tight finish as a thrilling warm-up delivered a strong workout for both teams, although with an injury to Katey Martin who received stitches after being struck in the face behind the stumps as Sarah Taylor looked to pull Lea Tahuhu.
The two sides will play each other once again in the second and final offiicial warm-up match for the WHITE FERNS in Chennai tonight (New Zealand time). The opening warm-up had replaced a scheduled official fixture against Pakistan yesterday, whose arrival to India has been delayed.
ICC/Getty
The second warm-up between the sides takes place at 10.30pm tonight (Saturday) NZT.
The 10-nation Women's World Twenty20 opens on 15 March with three-time defending champion Australia drawn alongside Ireland, the WHITE FERNS, South Africa and Sri Lanka in Group A.
Group B comprises Bangladesh, England, India, Pakistan and West Indies, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals.
