New Zealand clinched a commanding series victory over England with a game to spare, cruising to a five-wicket win in the second one-day international at Seddon Park on Wednesday.
After bowling England out for just 175, the hosts made light work of the chase, reaching their target with 101 balls to spare. Daryl Mitchell once again anchored the innings with an unbeaten 56, adding to his 78 not out in the opening match in Mount Maunganui. Rachin Ravindra struck 54, while captain Mitchell Santner added a brisk 34 not out from 17 balls to seal a 2-0 lead ahead of Saturday’s final match in Wellington.
The standout performer, however, was seamer Blair Tickner, who marked his return to international cricket with career-best figures of 4 for 34. Playing his first ODI in two years, Tickner impressed on his comeback after a difficult period away from the game, during which his wife was treated for leukaemia.
England endured another miserable outing, suffering their tenth defeat in 14 ODIs this year. Batting first, they were dismissed cheaply for the second time in five days, following their 223 all out in the first match. Harry Brook top-scored with 34, while Jamie Overton added 42 from 28 balls, the only two batters to pass 30.
Jofra Archer provided a rare highlight for England in his first appearance of the winter, returning figures of 3 for 23 from ten overs, including four maidens. Bowling at close to 90mph throughout, he troubled the New Zealand top order and gave his side a brief glimmer of hope.
After Santner won the toss and chose to bowl first, New Zealand’s seamers quickly put England under pressure. Jacob Duffy removed Ben Duckett for 1, and Tickner then dismissed Joe Root for 25 following two leg-side wides that drew the batter’s frustration. Root’s dismissal triggered another collapse as England slumped to 51 for 3, before Jos Buttler was trapped lbw by Nathan Smith.
Brook looked England’s best hope, striking a four and a six before being caught brilliantly by Will Young off Santner for 34. From there, wickets fell regularly, with Sam Curran bowled by Michael Bracewell and Overton’s late counterattack cut short by Tickner. England were bowled out with 14 overs unused.
Archer struck in his first over of the chase, trapping Young in front, and Overton later bowled Kane Williamson for 15. However, Ravindra and Mitchell steadied the innings with a composed partnership, and even though Archer returned to dismiss Ravindra for 53 and Bracewell down the leg side, New Zealand’s control never wavered.
Santner and Mitchell finished the job in style, sharing an unbroken stand of 59. A pair of towering sixes off Adil Rashid and a flurry of boundaries ensured a comfortable win, sealing the series 2-0 with one match remaining.
For England, the defeat extends their poor run in 50-over cricket, with their batting frailties again under scrutiny ahead of the Ashes, which begins in Perth next month.
