England women’s team defeated New Zealand by five wickets in the fifth match in Wellington, securing a 4-1 victory in the T20 series.
Chasing 137, captain Heather Knight and Nat Silver-Brunt put England in the lead with a crucial 57 for the fourth wicket.
England’s bowlers took early control with Siver Brunt taking 2 for 24, reducing the hosts to 4 for 31.
Brooke Halliday scored 33 before Alice Capsey holed out from Sophie Eccleston, who finished with 3 for 30 and wicketkeeper Izzy Gaze reached an unbeaten 51 until the final ball, totaling 6 He increased his batting average to 136 RBIs.
Maia Bouchier, who finished the series with an England record of 223 runs, fell early in his reply.
Alice Capsey, 25, and Danny Wyatt, 21, fell before the halfway mark, but Siver Brunt, 31, and Knight took the match away from New Zealand.
The Knights lost 35 on the five pitches they needed for the win, and Sophia Dunkley took just two pitches, finishing the job with seven pitches remaining.
Both teams begin a three-match ODI series in Wellington on Monday.
