Amy Jones fired a rapid 92 runs off 83 balls to get England Women off to winning start in the first one-day international against New Zealand in Wellington.
Jones and Charlie Dean (42 not out) put on an unbroken 130-run stand – the highest for the seventh wicket in women’s ODIs – to rescue an England side who were 79-6 at one stage.
Dean (3-57), Kate Cross (2-24) and Lauren Bell (3-41) had helped the tourists bowl New Zealand out for 207 inside 49 overs, despite Suzie Bates’ half-century.
Jess Kerr (2-48) bowled Tammy Beaumont for a duck as England began their reply before taking the wicket of skipper Heather Knight (12) to make it 37-2.
Maia Bouchier then fell for 31 before Amelia Kerr (2-46) had Alice Capsey lbw for a duck as England stumbled to 55-4.
Nat Sciver-Brunt was run out for just 12 to leave the tourists five wickets down inside 14 overs and Danni Wyatt went for 16 before Jones and Dean came to the rescue, with the latter smacking the winning runs, a four off Fran Jonas.
England claimed victory by four wickets with 52 balls remaining with the teams now heading to Hamilton on Wednesday for the second of three ODIs.
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