England women need 131 to win the first of their two ICC Women’s World Twenty20 warm-up matches against New Zealand in Chennai.
Katherine Brunt, fit again following a back problem, returned brilliant figures of 2-15 from four overs to restrict the White Ferns to 130 for six.
Anya Shrubsole and Rebecca Grundy were also economical, taking one wicket each and conceding just 17 and 24 runs respectively from their full allocation.
England got off to a good start when Rachel Priest nicked one behind to Sarah Taylor off Brunt for seven in the third over. But Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine steadied the ship with a 65-run second-wicket partnership.
Bates would soon depart for 38 from 33 balls after looping a shot to backward point with New Zealand on 78 for two.
A mini-collapse saw Devine and Sara McGlashan dismissed in the space of four balls to leave the White Ferns 101 for four with Brunt collecting her second wicket of the day.
Amy Satterthwaite hit a quickfire 22 before England, who play Bangladesh in their opening World T20 match next Thursday, picked up two wickets in the last two balls of the innings.
Here we go then! #Eng women’s #WT20 journey is underway @Anya_shrubsole to bowl the 1st over pic.twitter.com/MXbTZq17Pl
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) March 11, 2016
Source: ECB