Billings positive despite warm-up defeat

Sam Billings is confident England will impress during the T20 series in New Zealand despite losing their final tune-up game. Playing at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval, England posted 188-5 from their 20 overs with James Vince top-scoring with 46 while Joe Denly ended up unbeaten on 39, hitting four fours and one six during his late cameo. Leg-spinner Matt Parkinson, who is yet to make his full debut, dismissed Anton Devcich with his third ball in England colours and he should have had another two wickets as two catches were dropped off his bowling. It was a tough game for debutant Lewis Gregory as he went for 27 runs off his two overs but it was difficult for all of England’s bowlers, who were put to the sword by Colin Munro. Chasing 189 to win, the New Zealand captain smashed 107 from 57 balls with nine fours and seven sixes to lead the Black Caps to an eight-wicket victory with nine balls to spare. Despite the defeat, vice-captain Billings is feeling confident ahead of Friday’s contest, the first of five T20’s. He told Sky Sports: “You want to win every game but [Munro] came out and played a brilliant knock. We know what a quality player he is. “There were a few cobwebs with a few plans and people probably finding their feet but as long as we rectify that going into the first game I think we will be fine.”