WELLINGTON, New Zealand // England's Twenty20 squad provided a big confidence boost to visitors ahead of their one-day series in New Zealand.
A convincing margin to clinch the three-game T20 series prompted captain Stuart Broad to describe his side as the most "powerful" performance ever.
A record unbeaten opening wicket partnership by Alex Hales (80) and Michael Lumb (53) saw the pair hit nine sixes between them as England overhauled New Zealand's target of 139 for eight with more than seven overs to spare at the Westpac Stadium yesterday.
The openers are not part of the T20 side but 10 of the squad of 15 will stay back for the three-match, one-day series that starts in Hamilton tomorrow.
Their partnership of 143 was the highest opening stand for England in the T20 format. Broad led by example himself with the ball, earlier, after winning the toss. Only Martin Guptill (59) provided some resistance as Broad and Jade Dernbach took three wickets each.
"All round, it was probably the most powerful performance I've seen from an England side, really," Broad said, referring to T20 play.
"The result and the way we adapted to the conditions with the ball was brilliant. The fielding was strong as well, catches being held. It was a pretty perfect performance, really."
About Hales and Lumb's stand, Broad said, "We probably kept them to 20 or 30 under par. But the power the two openers have shown there was pretty spectacular.
"After winning the toss and deciding to bowl - it took a little time to make that decision - it was important we put our wrongs right," added Broad.
The captain had chosen to bowl first again - as he did, to England's cost, in their defeat in Hamilton three days earlier.
"We were blown off the park," the New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum said. "Batting, bowling and fielding nowhere near the standard it needed to be. England were ruthless in their approach and thoroughly deserved their victory."
"There was some excellent hitting. We served them up ... and I thought we bowled too straight; we weren't able to get any swing whatsoever.
"But in the end we probably needed 200, the way they played," the host captain said.
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