Mumbai - Adil Rashid and Jason Roy starred for England as Eoin Morgan's men recorded a six-wicket World T20 warm-up win over New Zealand in Mumbai.
Rashid took 3-15 with his leg spin as England stemmed New Zealand's run flow in the latter part of their innings to restrict the Black Caps to 169-8 at Wankhede Stadium. Roy then smashed 55 from 36 balls from the top of the order to help England on their way to victory with four balls to spare, Jos Buttler (24no from 9) sealing the win.
England's World T20 campaign kicks off on Wednesday when they tackle West Indies, before further group games against South Africa (Friday), Afghanistan (March 23) and Sri Lanka (March 26). Kane Williamson looked in supreme form for the Black Caps as he amassed 63 from 39 deliveries, the skipper striking nine boundaries - including four of them in Liam Plunkett's solitary, 19-run over - as well as a six before he was stumped off Rashid.
Williamson's efforts saw New Zealand race past 100 in the 10th over but they could only muster 68 runs in the second half of their innings as wickets fell at regular intervals, with Rashid adding the scalps of Luke Ronchi and Mitchell Santner to that of the Black Caps captain.
Roy then put his struggles during the recent limited-overs series in South Africa to bed with an enterprising knock that included seven fours and two sixes, the Surrey star depositing seamer Mitchell McClenaghan and spinner Santner into the stands. The right-hander was eventually caught off Santner but Alex Hales' 44 and Buttler's late fireworks - the keeper biffing three fours and six - denied New Zealand.
Scoreboard
NEW ZEALAND:
MJ Guptill c Jordan b Topley 16
KS Williamson st Buttler b Rashid 63
HM Nicholls c Rashid b Ali 14
L Ronchi c Morgan b Rashid 13
LRPL Taylor not out 19
MJ Santner c Stokes b Rashid 10
NL McCullum c Buttler b Stokes 2
GD Elliott b Topley 14
MJ McClenaghan c Buttler b Jordan 1
TG Southee not out 11
EXTRAS: (lb 1, w 4, nb 1) 6
TOTAL: (8 wickets; 20 overs) 169
FOW: 1-19, 2-84, 3-105, 4-110, 5-120, 6-123, 7-146, 8-151
BOWLING: CJ Jordan 4-0-37-1, RJW Topley 4-0-39-2, LE Plunkett 1-0-19-0, BA Stokes 3-0-28-1, MM Ali 4-0-30-1, AU Rashid 4-0-15-3
ENGLAND:
J Roy c Boult b Santner 55
AD Hales c & b McCullum 44
JE Root c Southee b Santner 12
EJG Morgan c Williamson b McCullum 20
JC Buttler not out 24
BA Stokes not out 8
EXTRAS: (lb 2, w 5) 7
TOTAL: (4 wickets; 19.2 overs) 170
FOW: 1-77, 2-110, 3-128, 4-148
BOWLING:
TG Southee 3.2-0-33-0, TA Boult 3-0-27-0, MJ McClenaghan 3-0-33-0, MJ Santner 4-1-24-2, NL McCullum 4-0-25-2, C Munro 1-0-16-0, KS Williamson 1-0-10-0
TOSS: New Zealand
UMPIRES: D Dharmasena, RSA Palliyaguruge
MATCH REFEREE: DC Boon (Australia)