The England men's cricketers smashed a Twenty20 record for their country as they eased to a 40-run victory over New Zealand in the first tour match in Auckland on Saturday night.
Helped by the tiny boundaries at Eden Park, England's powerful batting line-up scored 214 for seven - equalling the ground record and setting a new record target for the Black Caps in the process.
But in reply the hosts could only muster 174 for 9 off their 20 overs.
Captain Brendon McCullum, who sliced himself out for 10, admits the small boundaries - as well as five dropped catches - didn't help their cause, but the damage was done with the bat by England, who smashed 15 sixes.
Martin Guptill top-scored for the Black Caps with 44. The biggest cheer of the night was for Ross Taylor - who looked rusty and dropped two of the catches himself before finally snaring one with a wry smile. But Taylor holed out for 13 and once Guptill went, so did New Zealand's chances.
The second of the three-match T-20 series is on Tuesday i Hamilton.
