Sarah Glenn is thrilled to be part of a "really special" era for England's spinners. Her leg-spin delivered a triple-wicket over, ending with figures of 3 for 16, as England secured a commanding 59-run win against New Zealand in the first of five T20Is, crucial for both teams' World Cup preparations in October. The impressive performance was part of a formidable four-pronged spin attack that claimed seven of the nine New Zealand wickets at Southampton. Off-spinner Charlie Dean took 2 for 28, while world No. 1 Sophie Ecclestone and Linsey Smith, playing her 12th T20I but only her third since June 2019, each took one wicket.
Glenn expressed her delight at the team's collective effort, stating that Linsey had been consistently performing for a long time, especially in crucial phases of the game. Glenn emphasised the effectiveness of their varied skills and how well they complemented each other.
With England's captain Heather Knight hinting at potential experimentation throughout the series to finalise their squad for the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh, Glenn felt at ease in the spin-heavy setup. She mentioned that having additional spinners provided more strategic input and support, enhancing the team's overall strength.
In the match, Glenn's three wickets included experienced batters Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine, crucial players for New Zealand. Bates top-scored for the White Ferns with 43, but Devine was dismissed for a duck, a moment she described as "horrendous." Jess Kerr, batting at No. 8, was the second-highest scorer with 38, as New Zealand chased a challenging target of 198. Danni Wyatt's 76 and Nat Sciver-Brunt's 47 led England to 197 for 3.
Despite a series of dropped catches and misfields, England's margin of victory was their highest in T20Is against New Zealand. Glenn remained confident that they could address their fielding mistakes, highlighting the team's positive positions and efforts to attempt difficult catches.
England's spin-heavy strategy meant leaving out their strike seamer, Lauren Bell, with fast-bowling duties shared between two all-rounders: Sciver-Brunt, recovering from a knee injury, and Freya Kemp, returning from a back stress fracture. Kemp impressed in her second England appearance of the summer, scoring an unbeaten 26 off 17 balls at No. 4 and taking 1 for 30 in her four overs.
Bates acknowledged that England's spinners had outplayed New Zealand, despite their strategic planning. She expressed confidence in her team's ability to counterattack as the series progresses to Hove on Tuesday. Bates noted that England's clear game-plan and strong spinning attack, led by Ecclestone, posed significant challenges. However, she believed that with continued aggression and smart shot selection, New Zealand could turn the tables in the upcoming matches.