Stokes & Morgan power England to 6-wicket win
Mount Maunganui, Feb. 28: Ben Stokes and Eoin Morgan made half centuries to guide England to a six-wicket win over New Zealand in the second one-day international here, leveling the five-match series at 1-1.
Morgan made 62 and Stokes signalled his return to form after a five-month layoff with an unbeaten 63 as England surpassed New Zealand’s total of 223 with more than 12 overs remaining.
Stokes scored 12 and took 2-43 in the first match of the series, which was his first appearance for England since his arrest on Sept. 25 after a brawl outside a Bristol, Englnd nightclub. He had a more imposing influence on Wednesday’s match, taking 2-42 from eight overs, contributing to a runout and reaching his a half century from 54 balls, his first 50 in ODIs since his 73 against the West Indies in Bristol on the day before his arrest.
New Zealand’s mediocre total seemed unlikely to challenge England and after it briefly slipped to 86-3 losing Jason Roy for 8, Joe Root for 9 and Jonny Bairstow for 37 Morgan and Stokes put it on track to victory with a partnership of 88 for the fourth wicket.
Stokes and Jos Buttler (36 not out) then added an unbroken 56 for the fifth wicket to steer England home in the 38th over.
“We wanted to come back strong after the defeat in the first game,” Stokes said. “We felt we’d let ourselves down a little bit in the field.
“I think the lads jumped around that and I think we showed new intensity by the way that we fielded. Then to restrict them to 220 on a pretty decent batting wicket, I think the bowlers did a great job.”
England bowled and fielded superbly after winning the toss to dismiss New Zealand for 223 in 49.4 overs. Martin Guptill’s 50, his 34th ODI half century, and Mitchell Santner’s first held together a ragged New Zealand innings.
Two early wickets to Chris Woakes, two in the middle of the innings to spinner Moeen Ali, two brilliant catches by Jason Roy and four run outs helped England take control of the match.