7.26pm So, that's a wrap. Another fascinating contest has just played out. And as with the first ODI and the 2-2 squared series in the T20Is, it wasn't remotely close in the final analysis, but it dripped with intrigue! From Miller, Himanshu, Thilak and Matt, goodnight!
Time for some presentations. The player of the match, unsurprisingly, is Liam Livingstone.
"It wasn't quite a rescue mission, we pride ourselves on our depth, when I went in I got used to the conditions with Mo then Sammy played well. It's been a frustrating year for me, hard role when you have time off then have to smack it from ball one. Lean couple of months, but the other day in Cardiff did me the world of good. I just needed one innings. It's a frustrating game, sometimes it's hard to get time in the middle when you come in with 20 balls left in a T20 innings. But my hard work paid off."
Tom Latham: "Key partnerships took it deep in a shortened format, and with four out you can make it count. Full credit to Liam for a fantastic innings. The job up top with the new ball was fantastic, Boulty doing his thing was great. We're focussing on the job at hand not too far ahead. Playing roles as best as we can. We got behind the rate but if we'd had wickets in hand it might have been different."
Jos Buttler: "Delighted, from the position we found ourselves in, it's a credit to the way we want to play. It was a fantastic partnership. I want us to go harder, to push back, get the seamers off those lengths. It's been a hallmark of the team to fall on the positive side. Defining roles will come but everyone's clear on the options they have in the team. Livingstone and Curran at 7 and 8 are within their rights to want to bat higher up. Great start for us with the ball and we carried that on throughout the whole bowling innings."
John : "Not very often I come in from the pub, and see 5 red squares all on one scroll downwards... Well done England...I didn't give you a prayer after being 8 for 3."
7.10pm Well, it may be a rain-shortened game, but that is a statement win from England. Proof of their depth of quality with bat and ball, and of their fighting qualities after getting ransacked by Trent Boult in a rain-delayed powerplay. Not many teams recover from 8 for 3 to win so handsomely, but Liam Livingstone's longest innings in an England shirt put a proper score on the board, and their seamers in particular defended that with vigour. Willey, Topley and Atkinson were especially effective, before Moeen chipped in with the key wicket of Daryl Mitchell.
Doosra : "Not wishing to be a "party pooper" Mr M but I'm not sure our top 4 batters can be included in your assesment of "all round"!" Well yes, but had they not failed, we might not have witnessed the allround strengths of that line-up... Livingstone and Curran produced the knocks that were needed at the critical moment.
TA Boult c Curran b Willey 1 (2m 2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 50.00
TG Southee c Bairstow b Willey 4 (3m 3b 1x4 0x6) SR: 133.33
Snehil : "Time for Sixer Southee??" Six or bust now
END OF OVER:26 | 11 Runs 2 Wkts | NZ: 144/8 (84 runs required from 48 balls, RR: 5.53, RRR: 10.50)
- Tim Southee4 (2b)
- Matt Henry1 (1b)
- Moeen Ali5-0-30-2
- David Willey5-0-31-1
MJ Santner c Bairstow b Ali 4 (15m 8b 0x4 0x6) SR: 50.00
DJ Mitchell c Topley b Ali 57 (73m 52b 6x4 1x6) SR: 109.61
END OF OVER:25 | 5 Runs | NZ: 133/6 (95 runs required from 54 balls, RR: 5.32, RRR: 10.55)
- Daryl Mitchell51 (50b)
- Mitchell Santner4 (7b)
- David Willey5-0-31-1
- Moeen Ali4-0-19-0