New Zealand Vs England Highlights, 2nd ODI: NZ Seal Series With Five-Wicket Win

England Squad: Jamie Smith, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook(c), Jos Buttler(w), Sam Curran, Jamie Overton, Brydon Carse, Adil Rashid, Luke Wood, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Tom Banton, Rehan Ahmed, Sonny Baker

New Zealand Squad: Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham(w), Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner(c), Nathan Smith, Zakary Foulkes, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy, Devon Conway, Mark Chapman, Blair Tickner.

Rain has arrived in Hamilton, and the main pitch is under covers. The larger sheets are being pulled across now as the drizzle turns steady. The delay means no toss yet, but with a bit of luck, and some help from the breeze, those dark clouds might soon drift away.

New Zealand have won the toss and have opted to bowl first against England.

England (Playing XI): Jamie Smith, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook(c), Jos Buttler(w), Sam Curran, Jamie Overton, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid

New Zealand (Playing XI): Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham(w), Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner(c), Nathan Smith, Zakary Foulkes, Blair Tickner, Jacob Duffy

Game on in Hamilton, and an early blow for England! Jacob Duffy finds movement right away, pitching it on off and getting just enough seam to kiss the edge. Ben Duckett pokes at it from the crease, and Tom Latham makes no mistake behind the stumps. Sharp start from Duffy, England lose Duckett for 1 off 5.

Jamie Smith rocks back and nails it! Short from Foulkes, around 133 clicks, and Smith is quick to pick it up, swivels, pulls, and sends it racing over midwicket for four. Clean, confident shot, and the crowd’s loving that sound off the bat.

Good bounce from Jacob Duffy! He digs it in around 134 kph, short of length and climbing on Jamie Smith. The batter tries to defend from the crease but it thuds high on the bat, no run, but a tidy little tester from Duffy.

Gone! Jamie Smith tries to take on Foulkes and pays the price. That was a three-quarter seam delivery at 129 kph, Smith went for a wild hoick across the line, premeditated and risky.

The ball just nipped away, kissed the edge, and popped up. Williamson at backward point steadies himself, looked like he’d go reverse-cupped, but adjusts last second and takes it clean with fingers pointing down. Smart catch, cool head. England lose both openers, and Foulkes strikes again.

Tickner strikes early and Root’s gone! The plan on leg-stump works like a charm, fuller at nearly 136 clicks, Root looks to flick it fine but only manages a faint tickle. Latham dives sharply to his left, grabs it clean, and celebrates as Tickner beams with delight. A huge wicket in the very first over, Root walks back for 25, and England are suddenly wobbling.

Harry Brook and Jacob Bethell steadying things out in the middle, looking to build a partnership after that early tumble. England need this pair to dig in a ,bit of calm after the storm and maybe a few crisp drives to settle the nerves.

Oh no, straight after drinks and England lose another! Nathan Smith bangs it in short, and Jacob Bethell can’t resist the pull, mistimes it horribly. No control, no placement, just brute muscle down to deep square leg where Foulkes makes it look simple with a reverse-cupped grab.

Bethell walks back for 18, and that’s another partnership broken before it could even breathe. England just can’t stitch a stand together today, wickets keep tumbling, and the pressure’s mounting.

Cracking shot from Harry Brook! Nathan Smith drops it a touch short, and Brook is all over it, swivels, picks the length early, and pulls it behind square. Races away past the fielder in the deep for four. That’s authority written all over it!

Tickner’s on the money again and England are in deep trouble. Brydon Carse tries to take on the short one, pulls it flat from outside off, but doesn’t get the elevation. Mitchell at deep square leg crouches low and takes a neat catch. Carse departs for just 3, and England crumble further to 165 for 8 in 32 overs. Not looking good at all, the collapse keeps rolling.

Adil Rashid joins the fun. Santner tosses it up full, inviting the drive, but Rashid goes against the spin, whipping out a wristy slog-sweep that sails over cow corner for six. That’s clean, confident, and straight out of nowhere, wow, what a strike.

England’s batting fell apart again, bundled out for 175 in 36 overs, another forgettable effort after posting 223 in the first ODI. On a pitch that offered little for the seamers, it was poor shot selection that did them in. Duckett nicked off early, Smith and Root followed, and wickets kept tumbling as Bethell, Buttler, and Brook failed to settle.

Only Jamie Overton showed some fight with a brisk 40-plus, but Tickner’s four-wicket haul wrapped things up quickly. All six New Zealand bowlers struck, leaving the hosts firm favourites to close out the series.

We’re back for the chase! Will Young and Rachin Ravindra stride out for New Zealand, ready to hunt down 176. Jofra Archer takes the new ball for England, two slips waiting, all set for some early fireworks under lights.

Early breakthrough for England, Jofra Archer strikes in his very first over! Will Young trapped plumb in front, no hesitation from the umpire. Full, fast, and tailing in just enough to beat the bat and crash into the back knee-roll. Young knew it, a quick chat with Ravindra, but he’s walking.

Archer doesn’t even bother with a full appeal, just turns and celebrates. Perfect start for England, and New Zealand lose one without scoring.

Archer is on fire! He pitches it up with some real pace and movement, drawing Williamson into a loose drive, the ball zips past the inside edge and whistles through to the keeper. Cracking spell from Jofra, he’s asking all the right questions early on.

That’s a close shave for Ravindra! Sam Curran gets one to nip back in sharply from a good length, tempting the drive. Ravindra goes for it, misses completely, and the ball whistles past the off stump by a whisker. England right on the money with the new ball.

A bit of adventure from Ravindra! He charges down at Adil Rashid, looking to take him on, but gets completely deceived by the dip. Swings hard across the line, gets a thick inside edge, and it trickles away to deep square leg for a single. Risky business that!

Latham’s gone! Adil Rashid gets one to drift in and keep low, Latham tries the reverse sweep way too early, misses it completely, and it crashes into the back leg right in front. No doubt there, plumb as it gets. Rashid strikes, and England tighten their grip.

Fifty up for Daryl Mitchell! What a classy innings this has been. Rashid tosses it up on the stumps, and Mitchell brings out a cheeky reverse lap, nails it wide of short third for four. Just the over New Zealand needed to lift the tempo!

Mitchell and Santner guided New Zealand home with a composed partnership, sealing a five-wicket win to clinch the series. After England’s batting collapse for 175, the hosts steadied their chase despite early setbacks, with Mitchell’s fifty anchoring the innings and Santner providing calm support to finish things off in style.

That’s a wrap from this one! New Zealand take the series 2–0, and England will have plenty to think about before the final ODI.

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