Whangarei, New Zealand, Feb 5: Joss Butler smashed 57 from 24 balls to lead England to a 46-run win over a New Zealand XI in a Twenty20 match Tuesday to open its eight-week New Zealand tour.
England made 186-3 after losing the toss and being sent in to bat, boosted by Butler's unbeaten innings and by scores of 48 not out by Eion Morgan and 44 by Luke Wright. Morgan and Butler put on 77 runs in an unbroken fourth wicket partnership in only six overs.
Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes and Jade Dernbach each took three wickets as the New Zealand XI was bowled out for 140 in 19.5 overs. Broad took 2-22, Dernbach 3-24 and Woakes 3-27.
The teams meet again on Wednesday at Whangarei's Cobham Oval.
