Express & Star

New Zealand v England – Story of the match

Eoin Morgan led England to a two-run victory.

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England bowed out of the Twenty20 Tri-Series on a winning note, edging New Zealand in Hamilton but falling well short of the margin required to reach the final in Auckland.

The tourists ended a four-game losing streak with a two-run victory at Seddon Park but it was a hollow triumph, passing without celebration as the hosts’ superior net run-rate carried them into next week’s showpiece against Australia.

There was an encouraging performances from fit-again captain Eoin Morgan, whose unbeaten 80 guided England to 194 for seven and another nerveless final over from the steely Tom Curran, but the series has exposed clear cracks in the team’s short-form side.

Tweet of the match

Stat of the day

Dawid Malan’s 53 meant he has now scored four half-centuries in his first five T20 knocks. That is the same number of fifties as Joe Root (23 innings), Luke Wright (45 innings) and one more than team-mate Jason Roy (27 innings).

England end home comfort

New Zealand had won six of their previous seven T20 internationals at Seddon Park, making it their happiest short-form hunting ground. South Africa are the only other touring team to triumph at the venue, with an eight-wicket victory in 2012.

Magic Munro

Colin Munro smashed England mercilessly in New Zealand’s powerplay overs, bringing up his half-century in the space of 18 deliveries. He is the only player in T20 history to have three fifties in under 20 balls. India’s Yuvraj Singh is his closest rival having done so once in 12 balls and twice in 20.

Who’s up next?

Feb 21: New Zealand v Australia, Trans-Tasman final, Auckland.
Feb 25: New Zealand v England, one-day international, Hamilton.

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