Rapid 55 from de Grandhomme key in NZ’s win
NELSON: Colin de Grandhomme hit a halfcentury from 27 balls and New Zealand turned in an outstanding defensive bowling performance to beat England by 14 runs in the third twenty20 international yesterday and take a 21 lead in the fivematch series.
De Grandhomme was out for 55 from 35 deliveries as New Zealand reached 180 for seven after winning the toss at Saxton Oval.
Dawid Malan made 55 and James Vince 49 to put England on target for victory. But after being 139 for three at the end of the 15th over, the tourists crumbled and ended at 166 for seven.
Blair Tickner, in his second T20 international, took one wicket for two runs from his first nine balls, using bounce to good effect.
After facing some late pressure from the England batsmen, he returned to claim the crucial wicket of Vince in the 15th over to turn the tide of the match in New Zealand’s favour. Tickner finished with two for 25 from his four overs.
The figures of paceman Lockie Ferguson were identical.
Malan batted superbly to score his fifth T20 halfcentury from 29 balls and had gone on to 55 when he mistimed a wide fulltoss from Ish Sodhi and hit the ball directly to Martin Guptill on the fence in the 11th over.
New Zealand then quickly claimed the wickets of England captain Eoin Morgan for 18 and Sam Billings for one to take the upper hand.
Morgan was caught by Colin Munro from the bowling of Mitchell Santner at 139 for three and Billings was run out by a sideon throw from Munro only three runs later.
The England lower order was not able to keep up the momentum of the run chase and New Zealand completed backtoback wins after winning the second match of the series by 21 runs.
Guptill got New Zealand off to a strong start with 33 from 17 balls but it was de Grandhomme, batting up the order, who gave the innings substance with his third T20 halfcentury. — The New Zealand Herald