SA-born Carse strikes on debut as England cruise past Black Caps in T20 opener

England Twenty20 international debutant Brydon Carse took three wickets to set up a seven-wicket win over New Zealand in the series opener at Chester-le-Street on Wednesday.

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The 28-year-old South Africa-born paceman, in for the injured John Turner, returned fine figures of 3-23 from his maximum four overs as New Zealand were held to a modest 139-9.

Left-arm quick Luke Wood also took three wickets, following an expensive first over of the match that saw him hit for three sixes, on his way to 3-37.

Cape Town-born Carse, playing at his home Durham ground, told Sky Sports: "It was obviously a great start to my T20 career. It was awesome to play in front of a home crowd at Durham and put in a good performance for the team.

"I tried to stick to my strengths, hitting the top of the stumps."

Harry Brook and Brydon Carse guide England to a comfortable win in the first T20I. #ENGvNZ | ??Scorecard: https://t.co/kXkv13RK45 pic.twitter.com/m5SiOWDpgB

Twenty20 world champions England made light work of the chase, finishing on 143-3 with six overs to spare, as they went 1-0 up in a four-match series.

They lost dangerman Jonny Bairstow to just the second ball of their innings, when he edged New Zealand captain Tim Southee to slip, but otherwise England had few alarms.

Dawid Malan made 54 off 42 balls and Harry Brook an unbeaten 43 before Liam Livingstone ended the match in style by hooking Adam Milne high over deep square-leg.

Brook, a controversial omission from England's squad for the upcoming defence of their 50-over World Cup title in India, struck three sixes in his 27-ball stay, including a soaring pull off Southee.

England captain Jos Buttler was