Alice Capsey and Sophie Ecclestone star as England clinch T20 series

England secured a T20 series victory over New Zealand after a six-wicket success in Canterbury.

Having won the first two matches, they sealed the best-of-five contest by going 3-0 up after chasing down the target of 142.

Alice Capsey was the hero, hitting an unbeaten 67 off 60 balls, with Freya Kemp getting the job done with a flurry of late boundaries.

Spinner Sophie Ecclestone earlier did the damage with the ball, taking four for 25 from her four overs.

England’s target would have been far less had it not been for some late-innings hitting from New Zealand skipper Sophie Devine, who made an unbeaten 58.

It needed Devine’s intervention after England stifled the Ferns, having struck in first over, with Lauren Filer dismissing Georgia Plimmer for a golden duck.

Opener Suzie Bates and Amelia Kerr repaired the damage with a stand of 57, Bates becoming Ecclestone’s first victim for a 27-ball 38.

Ecclestone, Charlie Dean and Sarah Glenn kept it tight through the middle of the innings.

But Devine made the target competitive after some late hitting, whacking seven fours and two sixes in her unbeaten 58.

England’s response got off to the worst possible start as Maia Boucher was trapped leg before off the first ball, bringing Capsey to the crease.

The number three put on 66 with Sophia Dunkley, who hit 35 off 26 before being bowled by Fran Jonas.

Skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt also went first ball but Capsey’s half-century kept England on course.

It was still in the balance as the hosts needed 17 off 12 balls, but Kemp whacked three fours to ensure victory with four balls to spare.

Capsey is enjoying her new position in the batting order and feels it gets the best out of her.

She said in the post-match presentation: “I love batting number three in T20, you get the best of both worlds, you get the power play and you get a bit of time in the middle as well.

“I am really loving batting at three, I feel like I have got a good understanding of my game.

“At the end of the day I just want to perform for England so I was happy to get a performance in today.”