HIGHLIGHTS New Zealand vs England, England in New Zealand 3 T20I Series 2025, 2nd T20- Result, Scorecard

Welcome back for the run-chase. The players are back on the park. Tim Seifert and Tim Robinson to open the innings for the Black Caps. It will be Luke Wood to stream in with the ball for England. Here we go!

…THE RUN CHASE…

New Zealand's bowlers endured a tough outing, all conceding over 10 runs an over. Kyle Jamieson stood out with a couple of breakthroughs, while Jacob Duffy and Michael Bracewell chipped in with one wicket each. Despite being tidy in the field, the Kiwi side had little answer to the English onslaught, as the batters cleared the ropes regularly in a power-packed display.  Now, with a daunting target of 237, New Zealand will need a monumental batting effort to draw first blood in the series. Can the Black Caps pull off a record chase, or will the English bowlers rise to the occasion and defend the total? Stick with us, coverage of the second innings is coming up shortly.

England put on an explosive batting display to post a formidable total of 236/4 after being asked to bat first. Despite losing Jos Buttler and Jacob Bethell early in the Powerplay, Phil Salt (85) and Harry Brook (78) took control with a blistering 129-run partnership that shifted the momentum firmly in England’s favour. Both fell in the same over, but the damage was already done. Sam Curran and Tom Banton provided the late flourish, guiding England past the 230 mark and setting a new record for the highest T20I total at this venue.

Jacob Duffy to Tom Banton, A couple more to end the innings! Low full toss on the middle and leg. Banton flicks it toward the deep square leg region for a brace. England finish with 236/4.

Jacob Duffy to Tom Banton, Full-length delivery, outside the leg pole. Banton moves across and bunts it off the inner half through square leg. Scampers for the double.

Jacob Duffy to Tom Banton, FOUR! CLEVER! Short of a good length, angled into the leg pole. Banton backs away and guides it in the gap between backward point and short third fielder for a cheeky and effective boundary.

Jacob Duffy to Tom Banton, Back of a length, on the middle and leg. Banton miscues the pull toward deep mid-wicket and picks two more.

Jacob Duffy to Tom Banton, TWO LEG BYES! Duffy goes very full, almost a yorker on the leg pole. Banton looks to flick and misses. The appeal for LBW is turned down. New Zealand goes for the review. The ball tracking shows the Impact outside leg. Banton stays on. The ball rolls toward the long leg for two leg byes.

Jacob Duffy to Sam Curran, Full-length delivery outside off. Curran slices the loft toward deep cover and settles for a single.

Matt Henry to Tom Banton, Full-length delivery, outside off. Banton looks to squeeze it out but misses. A dot to end the big over.

Matt Henry to Tom Banton, FOUR! BANG! Slower and shorter, outside off. Banton gets on top of the bounce and flat-bats it over the bowler, down the ground for a thumping hit.

Matt Henry to Tom Banton, FOUR! Henry will not enjoy this! Full-length delivery, outside off. Banton swings hard at it, gets the outside edge again, and flies over the man at short third for another boundary.

Matt Henry to Tom Banton, SIX! PUNISHED! Back of a length delivery, around off. Sits up nicely for Banton, who goes back and smashes the pull over deep mid-wicket for half a dozen.

Matt Henry to Tom Banton, FOUR! LUCKY! Full-length delivery, wide outside off. Banton throws the hands at it, gets the outside edge that flies over short third for a streaky boundary. This is now the highest T20I score at the Hagley Oval.

Matt Henry to Tom Banton, Low full toss, around off. Banton drives it to the man at mid-off.

Kyle Jamieson to Sam Curran, SIX! BANG! Full pitcher at the stumps. Curran stays deep in the crease and pumps it over the man at long-on for a biggie.

Kyle Jamieson to Tom Banton, Slower, back of a length on off. Banton tucks into the leg side and takes one.

Tom Banton comes in at number 6.

Kyle Jamieson to Phil Salt, OUT! TAKEN! Kyle Jamieson gets his second, and both the set batters are gone in the space of a few balls. Lands it full, at the sticks. Salt makes room and lofts it off the cue end toward the long-off region. Gets the height, but not enough distance. Michael Bracewell keeps his eye on the ball, stays inside the ropes, and judges it nicely to take a sharp catch. A superb knock from Salt ends on 85.

Kyle Jamieson to Sam Curran, Low full toss on off. Curran hacks it toward the wide long-on region for one.

Sam Curran walks in at number 5.

Kyle Jamieson to Harry Brook, OUT! CAUGHT! Kyle Jamieson breaks the partnership! Slower and shorter delivery, banged into the pitch, on the middle stump line. Brook backs away and crunches the pull, goes flat and straight to Tim Robinson at the deep mid-wicket region. He makes no mistake, and an entertaining knock from the English skipper comes to an end.

Kyle Jamieson to Phil Salt, Slower length ball, follows the batter outside the leg stump. Salt gets cramped for room, comes off the inside edge to short fine leg for one.

Jacob Duffy to Harry Brook, FOUR! UP AND OVER! Duffy keeps it full, and well outside off. Brook reaches for it and lifts it off the toe end toward the deep extra cover region. A couple of bounces and goes for another boundary.

Jacob Duffy to Harry Brook, WIDE! Bowls this on a full-length and just outside the tramline. Brook swings and misses. Wide given now.

Jacob Duffy to Harry Brook, Duffy bowls it full, and on the tramline. Brook moves across for the slice but does not connect.

Jacob Duffy to Phil Salt, Pace off, fuller than a length, around off. Salt shuffles and muscles it along the ground to long-on for a single.

Jacob Duffy to Phil Salt, Back of a length, outside off. Salt pulls it in the gap at deep mid-wicket and deep square leg for a brace.

Jacob Duffy to Harry Brook, Slower length ball, angled in on off. Brook heaves it off the inner half, dragging to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Jacob Duffy to Phil Salt, Back of a length delivery outside off. Salt mistimes the slap into covers for a single.

Mitchell Santner to Harry Brook, Fired on the middle and leg. Brook flicks it to deep mid-wicket and takes two.

Mitchell Santner to Phil Salt, Full delivery on the pads, Salt flicks to mid-wicket for one.

Mitchell Santner to Harry Brook, Looped up on middle. Brook pushes it down to long-on for one.

Mitchell Santner to Harry Brook, Flatter and quicker, angled in, and follows the batter outside the leg pole. Brook sits low for the sweep but misses onto the pad.

Mitchell Santner to Phil Salt, Tossed up on a length, on the middle and leg. Salt is early into the shot, pulls it toward short fine leg for one.

Mitchell Santner to Phil Salt, FOUR! The runs keep coming for England! Flatter arm ball, on the middle and leg. Salt rocks back and pulls it hard to the deep backward square leg region, beats the fielder and gets another boundary.

Kyle Jamieson to Harry Brook, FOUR! Kyle goes full and wide of off, Harry Brook gets underneath it and chips this over mid off for yet another boundary. Harry Brook moves to 70 off just 28 balls.

Kyle Jamieson to Harry Brook, On a length around off, Harry Brook gives it a mighty heave but gets it edged around cover for a couple. Luckily for Brook it landed in an empty space.

Kyle Jamieson to Harry Brook, SIX! Back to normalcy and Brook hits one out of the park again. Short-pitched on middle and off, Harry Brook pulls this out of the park towards the deep mid-wicket region for another biggie.

Kyle Jamieson to Harry Brook, Good length on middle and off, Harry Brook defends this one. WOW!

Kyle Jamieson to Harry Brook, Full and wide outside off, Harry Brook looks to the scoop but gets it off the underedge towards deep square for two.

Harry Brook has smashed one out of the park and the umpires are now selecting another white leather as a replacement to it.

Kyle Jamieson to Harry Brook, SIX! MAMMOTH! On a length around middle and leg, Harry Brook stands still and slogs this out of the park over the roof of the stand towards the long on region for a 96m long hit.

Kyle Jamieson to Harry Brook, WIDE! Full and way too wide outside off, Harry Brook leaves it. Wided.

Mitchell Santner to Harry Brook, FIFTY! The English skipper reaches his half-century with this single towards the long on region. An excellent hand from Brook so far but he knows that the job isn't finished yet.

Mitchell Santner to Phil Salt, Quicker and flatter on off, Phil Salt punches this to cover for one.

Mitchell Santner to Phil Salt, Darted on the pads, Phil Salt flicks this behind square on leg for a couple.

Mitchell Santner to Harry Brook, Fuller on middle and leg, Harry Brook rolls this to long on for one.

Mitchell Santner to Phil Salt, Pushed through on middle and leg, Phil Salt drills this down to long on for one.

Mitchell Santner to Phil Salt, Fired onto the pads, Phil Salt goes for the flick on the swivel but misses out. Salt has lost his touch by being off-strike off late it seems.

Matt Henry to Harry Brook, SIX! Started the over with a false stroke that might have cost him his wicket but Brook ends this with a gigantic biggie. Back of a length on off, Harry Brook pulls this over the fence towards the deep mid-wicket region for a huge six.

Matt Henry to Harry Brook, Yorker on off, Harry Brook blocks.

Matt Henry to Phil Salt, Short and wide of off, Phil Salt slaps this to deep third for one.

Matt Henry to Phil Salt, On a length around middle and leg, Phil Salt flicks this to deep mid-wicket for two here.

Matt Henry to Harry Brook, Short-pitched, on off, Harry Brook pulls this to deep mid-wicket for one.

Matt Henry to Harry Brook, In the air and dropped. James Neesham hasn't had the best of the last 5-10 minutes. On a length wide of off, Harry Brook goes for the slog but gets it away off the toe end of his bat. The ball goes straight to James Neesham at the long on fence but Neesham goes with hard hands to it and the ball strikes his palm and pops out. A couple taken.

James Neesham to Harry Brook, On a length around middle and off, Harry Brook plays the reverse sweep to backward point for one.

James Neesham to Harry Brook, FOUR! And another boundary from Harry Brook. Good length on off, Harry Brook shifts to his left, opens up the off side and lofts this over cover for a boundary.

James Neesham to Harry Brook, FOUR! Brook is such a delightful batter to watch. Full and wide of off, Harry Brook moves away from the delivery, opens the face of his bat and just slices this over cover for four runs.

James Neesham to Phil Salt, NO BALL! Good length on the pads, Phil Salt flicks this through square leg for one. James Neesham has overstepped and Harry Brook will be facing the free hit.

James Neesham to Phil Salt, FOUR! Pace on from Neesham and Salt plays a good stroke for four. Short and close to the off of Salt. Phil hops up on his toes and just guides this using the pace over short third for four run.

James Neesham to Harry Brook, Good length around off, Harry Brook shuffles across and falls over again while ramping this to the fine leg region for one.

James Neesham to Harry Brook, FOUR! Short and wide outside off and Harry Brook stays leg side to it and carves this over point for a boundary. Brook moves to 29 in no time.

Kyle Jamieson to Phil Salt, A sharp bumper, wide of off, Phil Salt loosk to drag this towards the onside with a pull but Salt misses out.

Kyle Jamieson to Harry Brook, Short-pitched wide of off, Harry Brook steps across and hooks this to fine leg for one.

Kyle Jamieson to Phil Salt, Full toss on the pads, Phil Salt smashes this to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Kyle Jamieson to Phil Salt, FOUR! Salt will be looking to unleash with more brute power now, it feels. Pitched up wide of off, Phil Salt strides to the pitch of it and lofts this oevr extra cover for four runs.

Kyle Jamieson to Harry Brook, On a length around off, Harry Brook drives this through cover for one.

Kyle Jamieson to Phil Salt, Good length wide of off, Salt smashes this to sweeper cover for one.

Drinks break! England's off to a great start. Phil Salt's been in top form, striking the ball beautifully, and Harry Brook's joined him in the party. Bethell gave a good account of himself too. Now, New Zealand's got to get these two batters soon, or they'll be looking at a daunting chase. The Kiwis will be hoping their bowlers can create some pressure and pick up crucial wickets. Kyle Jamieson will bowl on the other side of the break.

Michael Bracewell to Phil Salt, Quicker one on off, Phil Salt thumps this down to long off for one.

Michael Bracewell to Harry Brook, Fuller on the pads, Harry Brook clips this to deep square for one.

Michael Bracewell to Harry Brook, WIDE! Tossed up, down the leg, Harry Brook goes for the sweep but fails to hit this. Tim Seifert glides to his left and gathers this behind the stumps and appeals confidently for caught behind and the umpire raises his finger. Harry Brook almost immediately asks the umpire to send this upstairs and the technology comes to the rescue of the English skipper as UltraEdge shows no spike when the ball passes the bat.

Michael Bracewell to Phil Salt, Tossed up on off, Phil Salt rolls this to long off for one.

Michael Bracewell to Phil Salt, FOUR! Swept well for four this time. Tossed up on middle and leg, Phil Salt gets down on a kene and sweeps this behind square on leg for a boundary.

Michael Bracewell to Harry Brook, Bracewell sees the shimmy from the English skipper and fires one wide of off, Harry Brook adjusts well and rather than ramping, he just ooens his bat face and guides this past short third to his left for one.

Michael Bracewell to Phil Salt, FIFTY FOR SALT! Quicker one on the pads, Phil Salt nudges this to wide long on and takes a single to bring up his half-century.

Michael Bracewell to Phil Salt, WIDE! Fired down the leg, Salt swings at it but misses. Wided.

Mitchell Santner to Harry Brook, Floated around middle and off, Harry Brook cuts this to sweeper cover and takes two.

Mitchell Santner to Harry Brook, SIX! Bigger and better from Brook. Short of a length on off, Harry Brook steps across and slogs this out of the park towards the deep mid-wicket region for another biggie. Harry Brook is taking the attack to the Kiwi skipper and is winning the battle of skippers so far.

Mitchell Santner to Harry Brook, FOUR! An innovative boundary from the English skipper here. Quicker and flatter around off, Harry Brook shuffles across, falls over but still manages to ramp this behind the stumps for a boundary to the fine leg region.

Mitchell Santner to Harry Brook, SIX! Brook clears the fence with ease now. Tossed up, on middle and leg, Harry Brook shimmies down the track, gets on top of the boucne and slogs this over the fence towards the cow corner for a biggie.

Mitchell Santner to Phil Salt, Flighted on off, Phil Salt smashes this to wide long off for a single.

Mitchell Santner to Phil Salt, Tossed up, wide outside off, Phil Salt cuts this to backward point for no run.

Michael Bracewell to Phil Salt, Fuller on the pads, Phil Salt flicks this through mid-wicket and takes a single.

Michael Bracewell to Harry Brook, Fuller on middle and leg, Harry Brook rolls this to Mitchell Santner at mid on, a misfield from the Kiwi skipper and the batters pounce on the opportunity and take one.

Michael Bracewell to Harry Brook, Fired on the pads, Harry Brook goes for the sweep but misses out and gets the ball brushed off his pads back to the keeper.

Michael Bracewell to Harry Brook, Excellent running between the wickets from Brook and Salt as they convert one into two here. Fired on middle and leg, Harry Brook flicks this through mid-wicket and runs the first aggressively and takes on the arm of Rachin Ravindra at deep mid-wicket and scampers back for two.

Michael Bracewell to Phil Salt, Fuller on off, Phil Salt pushes this in the gap for one.

Michael Bracewell to Phil Salt, Fuller on the pads, Phil Salt goes for the flick towards the square leg region but misses out.

Mitchell Santner to Phil Salt, Floated on off, Phil Salt thumps this through cover for a single to close this Santner over.

Mitchell Santner to Phil Salt, Floated around off, Phil Salt drives this to sweeper cover for a couple.

Mitchell Santner to Phil Salt, Fuller on middle and off, Phil Salt pushes this to extra cover for another dot.

Mitchell Santner to Phil Salt, Pushed through on off, Phil Salt punts this to extra cove for no run.

Mitchell Santner to Phil Salt, FOUR! Salt remains unfazed by what's happening at the other end. Short and way too wide outside off, Phil Salt slashes hard at it and gets it in the gap behind square on off for four runs.

Mitchell Santner to Phil Salt, Fired on off, Phil Salt punches this to cover for no run.

Harry Brook walks out at 4.

Michael Bracewell to Jacob Bethell, OUT! CAUGHT! Michael Bracewell has the last laugh as he removes Jacob Bethell from the middle. Just a touch quicker and fuller, on off. Jacob Bethell looks to repeat the stroke from the previous delivery but that extra bit of pace on this does it's trick as Jacob Bethell hits this straight to James Neesham at mid on.

Michael Bracewell to Jacob Bethell, SIX! Back-to-back biggies for Bethell. Fuller around off, Jacob Bethell gets down on a knee and slogs this up and over the fence towards the long on region yet again for another biggie.

Michael Bracewell to Jacob Bethell, SIX! Proper cricketing stroke for a biggie. A tad short from Michael Bracewell around middle and off, Jacob Bethell jumps down the track and just extends his arms and chips it well enough to clear the fence towards the ong on region for six.

Michael Bracewell to Phil Salt, LEG BYE! Quicker one around off, Phil Salt goes for the reverse but gets it deflected off his pads through short third for one.

Michael Bracewell to Phil Salt, FOUR! Heaved away for four more. Tossed up on off, Phil Salt shimmies to his left and lofts this up and over the fielder at cover for four more runs.

Michael Bracewell to Phil Salt, FOUR! Misplaced stroke from Salt but still he muscles this for a boundary. Short of a length on middle and off, Phil Salt looks to slog this over mid-wicket but hits this straight past the bowler and the ball has raced to the fence in front of the sight screen down the ground.

Michael Bracewell is introduced into the attack.

Jacob Duffy to Jacob Bethell, On a length around off, Jacob Bethell drives this to cover for a dot.

Jacob Duffy to Jacob Bethell, FOUR! A boundary now for Bethell. Good length on middle and off, Jacob Bethell stays leg side to it and lofts this over the fielder at mid on for four more runs.

Jacob Duffy to Jacob Bethell, Good length wide of off, Jacob Bethell leaves it all alone.

Jacob Duffy to Phil Salt, Good length on off, Phil Salt pushes this to mid on and takes a quick single.

Jacob Duffy to Jacob Bethell, DROPPED! Duffy hits the hard length, taking the ball across the batter and this was a cutter as well. Jacob Bethell goes for the pull but doesn't get the connection he was after. The ball catches a leading edge hanging to the left of the keeper. Tim Seifert glides to his left and loses it as the ball swirls around short third. Tim Seifert ends up dropping it as the ball eventually falls on the ground. A single taken.

Jacob Duffy to Jacob Bethell, FOUR! Poor from Duffy and Jacob Bethell takes advantage of it. Good length down the leg, Jacob Bethell just flicks this away from the short fine leg fielder and the ball has raced to the fence for four.

Change of ends for Jacob Duffy.

Kyle Jamieson to Phil Salt, FOUR! Errs in line do Kyle Jamieson and Salt makes him pay. On a length, going down the leg, Phil Salt gets inside the line and flicks this through the backward square leg region for four runs.

Kyle Jamieson to Phil Salt, Back of a length on off, shoots a wee bit more on the batter. Phil Salt oes for the pull but gets beaten.

Kyle Jamieson to Phil Salt, Good length on middle and off, Phil Salt steps insdie and gently flicks this through mid-wicket and scampers back for two.

Kyle Jamieson to Jacob Bethell, Good length on off, Jacob Bethell punches this through extra cover for one.

Kyle Jamieson to Phil Salt, On a length around the pads, going further down. Salt flicks this away for one.

Kyle Jamieson to Jacob Bethell, Back of a length on middle and off, Jacob Bethell almost knocks the leg umpire out with a pull that goes just over him for a single to deep square.

Matt Henry to Phil Salt, Good length on off, Phil Salt flicks this with fast hands, front of square on leg and takes two.

Matt Henry to Jacob Bethell, A quick single from Bethell. Good length on off, Jacob Bethell dabs this in front of mid off and takes one.

Matt Henry to Jacob Bethell, Back of a length on off, Jacob Bethell punches this to cover for no run.

Matt Henry to Phil Salt, Good length on the pds, Phil Salt flicks this away for one.

Matt Henry to Phil Salt, Short-pitched, on off, Phil Salt leaves it all alone.

Matt Henry to Phil Salt, Good length on off, Phil Salt dabs this to point for no run.

Jacob Bethell walks out at 3.

Jacob Duffy to Jos Buttler, OUT! CAUGHT! Jacob Duffy strikes and sends Jos back into the hut. Back of a length around off, Jos Buttler shimmies down the track and goes for a mighty heave. Gets it away off the outside of his bat and the ball hangs over Mitchell Santner at mid off. Santner setlles well underneath it and holds onto it inside the circle.

Is that a no-ball? The TV umpire is checking the stump cam footage to confirm whether Duffy overstepped the crease. Looks like it was a close call, but fortunately for the Kiwis, it's been deemed a fair delivery.

Jacob Duffy to Jos Buttler, FOUR! Up and over for four. Jos Buttler joins the party as well. Pitched up on off, Jos Buttler strides to the pitch of the delivery and plays the lofted drive up and over cover for four runs.

Jacob Duffy to Phil Salt, Good length on off, Phil Salt flicks this to deep square leg for one.

Jacob Duffy to Phil Salt, FOUR! Awkward and uncomfortable from Salt but four runs nonetheless. Short-pitched, into the batter. Phil Salt hops uop on his toes and looks to nudge this around mid-wicket but gets a top edge that takes the ball over the keeper for four.

Jacob Duffy to Phil Salt, FOUR! Another boundary for the dynamic English opener. Short and wide of off, Phil Salt stands still and smashes this on the surface towards his right that helps the ball to bounce over the fielder at cover for a boundary.

Jacob Duffy to Phil Salt, Duffy bowls full and on off, Phil Salt punches this to mid on for no run.

Jacob Duffy to operate from the other end.

Matt Henry to Jos Buttler, Good length around off, Jos Buttler pushes this to backward point for a dot.

Matt Henry to Phil Salt, Henry goes full and attacks the pads of Salt. Phil flicks this to deep square for one.

Change in field from Matt Henry as he drops mid-wicket deep and brings third man inside the circle. This suggests a short ball to the batter or a fuller one around the leg.

Matt Henry to Phil Salt, Good length on off, Phil Salt punts this to mid-wicket for no run.

Matt Henry to Phil Salt, FOUR! A boundary to follow. On a length, straying down the leg, Phil Salt gets inside the line of it and flicks this all along the carpet through the short fine leg region for a boundary more. 10 off the first 3 deliveries.

Matt Henry to Phil Salt, SIX! Salt begins the fireworks with a biggie. Back of a length, on middle and off, Phil Salt stands upright, right behind the line of it and pulls this up an dover the fence towards the deep mid-wicket region to open his account with a biggie.

Matt Henry to Phil Salt, A dot to begin the 2nd T20I. Good length around off, Phil Salt strides to the pitch of it and punches this well but straight to cover for a dot.

The stage is set. Jos Buttler and Phil Salt are ready to open the innings for England, facing the first over from the opposition, which will be bowled by Matt Henry. The crowd is on the edge of their seats as Henry marks his run-up, marking the beginning of this exciting contest.

Shane Bond's pitch report highlights the presence of a nice covering of grass, and despite being under the sun for a day and a half, he believes it will still offer assistance to bowlers. He anticipates England will be aggressive and is eager to see the improvements they make.

Harry Brook, the England Captain, expressed satisfaction with his team's performance, stating that they would have bowled first if they had won the toss, but were happy to bat. He felt they did a fine job reaching 150, considering they weren't at their best and looked scratchy at times.

Mitchell Santner, the New Zealand captain, assessed the pitch, noting that it appears drier, and his team will attempt to exploit any assistance it offers. He expressed satisfaction with their bowling lineup and acknowledged the wind as a potential challenge, suggesting it may affect one side of the pitch more than the other.

England (Unchanged Playing XI) - Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (WK), Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook (C), Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Jordan Cox, Brydon Carse, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid, Luke Wood.

New Zealand (Unchanged Playing XI) - Tim Seifert (WK), Tim Robinson, Rachin Ravindra, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Michael Bracewell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner (C), Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy.

TOSS - New Zealand have won the toss and elected to BOWL first.

As we head into game two, both teams are packed with talent and hungry for victory. Expect a high-intensity contest as England look to bounce back and New Zealand aim to capitalize on home conditions. Who will strike first, the visitors, or the Black Caps on their own turf? Toss and team news coming up shortly. Stay tuned!

New Zealand’s bowlers, however, had plenty to be pleased about. Each of the six bowlers picked up a wicket, with Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, and Mitchell Santner standing out. Their efforts restricted England to a modest total that the hosts would have fancied chasing, had the weather held up.

In the first T20I, England posted 153/6 after choosing to bat. Jos Buttler and Harry Brook got starts, but it was Sam Curran’s gritty 49 off 35 balls that pushed the total past 150, a score that felt underwhelming for a side known for its batting firepower. Unfortunately for England, rain arrived during the innings break, denying their bowlers any opportunity to defend the total. 

Hello and welcome to our coverage of the second T20I in the three-match series between New Zealand and England, from Hagley Oval in Christchurch. The series opener ended in a no result due to rain, meaning both teams enter this clash looking to seize the early advantage. New Zealand will be keen to draw first blood and go 1-0 up, while England will be aiming for a more polished performance, especially with the bat. 

…MATCHDAY…

International cricket usually isn’t hosted in this part of the world in the month of October, that too, limited over fixtures. But here we are. ‘Abandoned’ and ‘washout’ - these are the words in the cricketing lexicon that nobody likes. Actually, scratch that. Nobody is too mild. These words are absolutely despised, loathed even. It becomes more and more frustrating when a team travels all the way from a thousand miles for a tightly accommodated white-ball series, only to watch the covers come on. But nature is something, or the only thing, a human can’t control, quite literally. You can’t negotiate with rain clouds, can you? Hagley Oval of Christchurch once again will be in action, and hopefully, fingers crossed, for a full game of cricket. After a washout in the series opener, this second T20I is a sure shot do or die for both teams. No second chances. No room for error. But whatever cricket was able to be squeezed before rain splashed all over the party, England would desperately want to tighten up the screws. Their batting looked pretty unorganized and appeared to be struggling to cope with the early-season movement of the green-tinged surface. Frankly, they were in complete disarray until the ‘invincible’ Sam Curran came to their rescue. The top order managed to get themselves in, but Phil Salt, Jos Buttler, and skipper Harry Brook need to go beyond just decent starts. Then there’s Jacob Bethell, who really needs to step up now and improve his credentials. Many T20Is have gone by since his unbeaten 62 against West Indies in November 2024, and he’s still waiting for his next half century. In fact, 26 is the highest he’s managed in his last five outings. Yes, it might sound harsh to be critical of someone so young, but the talent he possesses deserves far better returns than these 20s and 30s. In the other camp, Duffy, Henry, Santner, Jamieson, and others, every bowler chipped in with at least one wicket. Share the load, share the glory. But the death over bowling is where things unraveled a bit. Now, you could argue that the moisture made gripping the ball tricky, and that’s a fair point. But conceding 56 runs in the last five overs, with 19 coming off the final one alone, after being in such a commanding position? That’s the sort of thing that makes you sit back and wonder what went wrong. You can bet the team meetings won’t gloss over that. For the Kiwis, it’s about maintaining that stranglehold they established so well. Get on top, stay on top. Don’t give the opposition any breathing room to claw their way back. For England, it’s about playing that fearless Bazball brand they’ve embraced, going after the bowlers with intent, but also being smart about it. These conditions aren’t forgiving. There’s help for the bowlers, and throwing caution completely to the wind will only backfire. The key is finding that sweet spot between aggression and awareness. Attack with purpose, not recklessness. And that goes for both sides, of course. It’s highly unlikely that both teams will make any changes to their XI, but if so, would be interesting to see what are those. Overall, it promises to be another spicy contest between two quality sides.