First Twenty20, The Cloudfm County Ground in Chelmsford England 184-4 (20 runs): Beaumont 95 (65), Jones 31 (15); Jensen 226 New Zealand 38 (18.5 overs: Satterthwaite43 (31); Brunt 2-9; Glenn 2-24 England won with 46 runs Scorecard
Tammy Beaumont scored a sensational 97 and England won by 46 runs over New Zealand at Chelmsford's first Twenty20.
Beaumont, who was dropped by Kiwis captain Sophie Devine on 26 and 64, hit 13 fours from 65 balls as she brutally attacked New Zealand, who hadn't played competitive cricket since April.
As England beat the White Ferns 184-4, they were assisted by Amy Jones (a 15-ball 31) and Sophia Dunkley (an unbeaten 23), who both made excellent contributions to her success.
England made a debut for Emma Lamb of North West Thunder after Heather Knight, North West Thunder captain, was out with a hamstring injury.
England was able to share regular wickets and catch and field well, to bowl New Zealand out for just 138 runs with seven balls remaining.
The second match in the three-match series will be played at Hove on Saturday.
Beaumont seizes the opportunity to say, "It was a masterclass."
Tammy Beaumont's score of 97 was her second highest international T20 score, following her 2018 score of 116 against South Africa.
Beaumont made her England debut in 2009 and has been a part of 94 T20 matches. However, it has been difficult to pinpoint a role in the side. She has played in all positions in T20 format except for 10.
Most of the majority have been in her preferred opening slot. But when Lisa Keightley assumed control before the 2020 World Cup began, Beaumont was at seven and six in her first two innings.
England was forced to rethink after a semi-final exit (OK even though it was due to the rain), which led Beaumont and Danni Wyatt being reunited at the top.
Beaumont knew she had to seize the opportunity presented by The Hundred, which showcased talents such as Lamb and Alice Capsey.
She grabbed at any hint of width, hitting 10 boundaries through the covers, and then used her feet to smash to the mid-wicket boundary with alarming ease.
She seemed certain of a second international century when she reached the final over at 95. But she was overwhelmed by the standing applause as Brooke Halliday came in short third.
Kate Cross, her England teammate, was also present at the coverage. She said that it was "an absolute Tammy Beaumont masterclass." She was a skilled manipulator of the field and was very powerful.
Tammy Beaumont scored runs throughout the wicket, but she was especially strong through the covers
England effectively targets Kasperek
Chelmsford is an extremely scoring ground. England has won nine of the previous ten matches in T20 format at Chelmsford.
It is not a wise decision to bowl spin in the powerplay. England beat Leigh Kasperek by 15 runs in the third over.
It got worse when Beaumont scored her third over for 18, including four consecutive fours all through the off side.
Her final numbers, which were above the half century mark when Beaumont lofted six balls for six over midwicket, were 1-54. They exemplified a lacklustre fielding performance from the tourists.
There were four missed catches and New Zealand were too slow to adjust their approach when bowling. Amy Satterthwaite was there for the ball, despite Jones hitting four boundaries through the leg-side or fielding positions in one over.
England wins with spinners
Devine and Bates were caught lbw by returning Tash Farrant and Bates. This left New Zealand in serious trouble.
Their goal of 185 would have been an unprecedented chase, but the pressure was too much and they adopted a hit-out or-get-out strategy that was unlikely to win against a well-drilled England team.
England has a formidable spin trio with Sophie Ecclestone, the number-one-ranked spinner in the world, Mady Villiers and Sarah Glenn, who perform as they do so often.
They took 5-65, with Glenn and Ecclestone taking 2-24. From 8.5 overs to tear through New Zealand's middle order and make it inevitable.
Brunt was a good help to the spinners, taking 2-9, including the dismissal of Satterthwaite on 43. The fielders were also well supported by Brunt, who took 2-9. Villiers and Farrant both took fantastic catches, as England opened the series with an impressive performance.
On BBC Two, Nat Sciver, the stand-in captain, said that they are in a good position at the moment.
"It is a luxury to have three top spinners. But Katherine was at the top and came back in the middle was also important."
