At last: NZ beat England
It’s been nearly 20 months since this was last written. Wait for it: New Zealand have beaten England in a game of cricket.
For the first time since the Black Caps pummelled England by an innings and 49 runs in the pink ball test in Auckland, in March last year, they finally ticked the W column again in the second Twenty20 international in Wellington yesterday.
After all that World Cup drama, then a flat seven-wicket defeat in the Christchurch series opener on Friday, New Zealand posted 176-8 thanks to some late Jimmy Neesham hitting, then defended stoutly for a 21-run win.
The sides head to Nelson at 1-1 for game three of five tomorrow.
Victory also confirmed Westpac Stadium as one of New Zealand’s favourite venues in the shortest format, chalking up their sixth straight win when they skittled England for 155 with one ball left.
It got tense when Chris Jordan slammed Ish Sodhi for three successive sixes to leave England needing 57 off the last six overs.
But New Zealand kept their cool and held their catches superbly, outfielding a sloppy England as spinner Mitchell Santner made key interventions in his excellent spell of 3-25.
Captain Tim Southee (2-25) set the tone when he removed dangerman Jonny Bairstow to a leading edge, first ball, then Lockie Ferguson enticed James Vince to clip one straight to deep
Result:
point to make it 7-2.
Dawid Malan (39 off 29) topscored and clouted Neesham onto the stadium roof to join a rare group to achieve the feat including Martin Guptill and Colin Munro.
But Sodhi removed him before the late carnage, and Santner claimed the big wicket of captain
Eoin Morgan (32 off 17).
New Zealand’s total looked a touch below par, especially when their last two winning scores at the ground were 219-6 against India in February and 196-5 against England a year previous.
On a good surface 200 was on the cards but, as in Christchurch, no one could bat through and dominate after promising starts.
A power-packed Neesham finish, 42 off 22 balls including four sixes batting No 7, boosted them to a respectable score after England’s Jordan was superb in taking 3-23.
They also got a leg-up from some awful England catching, with Christchurch man of the match Vince shelling three himself and the team five in all.
Earlier it was a series of starts but disappointing endings, notably Guptill who looked set to burst out of his slump and go large at the scene of his 237 not out in the 2015 World Cup quarterfinal.
A trademark, effortless lofted drive for six welcomed new cap Saqib Mahmood and Guptill moved easily to 41 – his highest T20 international knock since February last year. Then he looked as shocked as anyone to guide an Adil Rashid long hop to deep backward square.
Opening partner Munro (7 off 5) continued his lean trot when he shuffled across to Sam Curran (2-22).
At 96-3 off 10 it looked promising with Colin de Grandhomme (28 off 12) warming to his task and sending a Rashid delivery flying into Aisle 25 and onto the concourse. But he played around one from allrounder Lewis Gregory who took a wicket with his first ball in international cricket.