Christchurch, Feb 23 (UNI) Riding on half-centuries from Tammy Beaumont and Heather Knight, England Women thrashed New Zealand by 8 wickets in the first ODI, to take 1-0 series lead in the three-match series, here on Tuesday.
Beaumont and Knight scored 71 and 67* respectively and helped England chase down a target of 179 in just 33.4 overs, after New Zealand, riding on fifties from Hayley Jensen and Brooke Halliday, posted 178.
After opting to bat, New Zealand didn't have a great start. Katherine Brunt and Tash Farrant dismissed top order batters Natalie Dodd and Amy Satterthwaite for single-digit scores and New Zealand were two down in the 10th over with just 34 on board.