NZ v ENG 2019: England inch past New Zealand in Super Over to lift T20I series title

It was an outstanding series finale in Auckland where England eventually came out triumphant.

It was a special game of cricket to cap off the T20I series | Getty

England edged past New Zealand in a thrilling fifth and final game of the T20I series in Auckland this Sunday (November 10) to lift the trophy. It was a remarkable game of cricket that could well have been washed out by rain but eventually finished in the super-over, and this time, thankfully, without any controversy between these two sides as it did in the World Cup final at Lord's. 

Earlier, it couldn't even begin on time with heavy showers playing spoilsport and forcing upon us a rain-curtailed 11-overs per side encounter when they finally relent. 

Batting first, the Kiwis posted a mammoth score of 146/5 with the likes of Martin Guptill (50), Colin Munro (46) and Tim Seifert (39) striking it big over the small Eden Park boundary dimensions. 

Adil Rashid (1/34) and Saqib Mahmood (1/20) bowled reasonably well for England. 

In the run-chase, the visitors started off poorly; losing three early wickets and finding themselves 39/3 after three overs. Just then Jonny Bairstow (47) and Sam Curran (24) resurrected the innings with some lusty blows off the park and even threatened to take the game away from Black Caps. 

However, England lost both in quick succession to hand back the advantage to the hosts. Although in another twist and turn, lower-order batsmen Tom Curran and Chris Jordan struck it nicely and kept their team in the contest. 

Needing a further 16 to win off the last over against Jimmy Neesham at the end, Jordan and Curran managed 15 of those and eventually tied the match to set-up another super-over finish. 

Trent Boult (2/35) and Mitchell Santner (2/20) were the stand-out Kiwi bowlers. 

All the focus and attention was now onto the super-over where stand-in New Zealand captain Tim Southee took the responsibility to bowl first up against England skipper Eoin Morgan and opener Bairstow. 

Southee gave away a six each to Morgan and Bairstow either side of some really good yorkers to keep England down to 17 runs.

New Zealand's designated batsmen Guptill and Seifert were then left with the task of chasing 18 off 6 against Jordan, who kept his nerves under pressure like his captain and gave away only eight runs to finish off the proceedings and enable England a 3-2 series win. 

Brief scores: 

New Zealand 146/5 in 11 overs (Martin Guptill 50; Adil Rashid 1/34) tied with England 146/7 in 11 overs (Jonny Bairstow 47; Trent Boult 2/35) but lost in the super-over by 9 runs. 

 
 

By Kashish Chadha - 10 Nov, 2019

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