Brilliant Beaumont's 97 lifts England to series lead

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Beaumont struck 13 fours and a six in front of a big Chelmsford crowd, only to fall short of a second T20I century, dismissed by Hayley Jensen on the second-last ball of the innings.

New Zealand captain Sophie Devine won the toss and elected to bowl at the County Ground, and Beaumont showed signs of what was to come with two boundaries in the first over off the bowling of Jess Kerr (0/20). Captain Devine was more miserly, before Danni Wyatt seized on Leigh Kasperek (1/54) as she entered her spell, hitting three consecutive boundaries. Wyatt tried her luck perhaps once too many going for a fourth, falling for 14 off eight, stumped by Katey Martin off the bowling of Satterthwaite (1/31).

Taking the captaincy with Heather Knight injured, Nat Sciver joined Beaumont through the Powerplay and into the tenth over, where she was bowled by Jensen for 14 off 16 balls.

Beaumont and Amy Jones bossed the next four overs in the middle, combining in a blistering partnership of 53. Veteran Amy Satterthwaite claimed Jones for a 15-ball 31, with Martin again cleaning up with a smart stumping.

The loss of Jones proved no issue for Beaumont who continued her charge with Sophia Dunkley who chipped in with 23* from 17.

On 95 at the start of the final over, Beaumont chipped the third ball of the over for two, before mistiming a reverse scoop to Brooke Halliday trying to reach three figures. England finished on 184/4 from their 20 overs.

England were on the button early in their defence, with Tash Farrant (1/24) and Katherine Brunt (2/9) picking up Devine (2) and Suzie Bates (1) respectively within the first three overs. It proved to stifle New Zealand’s batting efforts, despite the work of Satterthwaite, who hit back with a 31-ball knock of 43.

Satterthwaite struck eight boundaries in her stay, but couldn’t find a partner to build a countering challenge. The spin of Sarah Glenn (2/24), Mady Villiers (1/17) and Sophie Ecclestone (2/24) turned the screws for the hosts, who pushed New Zealand out of the match with five wickets between them.

At 98/7, Hannah Rowe (11) and Thamsyn Newton (14) showed late fight, though it was all in vain as Ecclestone claimed the final wicket to leave New Zealand 46 runs short.

The next match between the teams will be played at Hove on Saturday.