Harry Brooke’s incredible 100 runs went to waste. England paid the price for not only a dropped catch but overall poor batting in a four-wicket loss to New Zealand in the first one-day international at Mt Maunganui.
England captain Brook (135 off 101 balls, 11 sixes and nine fours) accounted for 60.53% of his side’s 223 runs in 35.2 overs, with Jamie Overton (46) the only player to reach double figures and Sam Curran the third highest scorer with six.
The extra-time total (17) was more than the combined innings of six of England’s top seven players, including Jamie Smith (0), bowled by Matt Henry from the first ball of the match, and Ben Duckett (2). ), Joe Root (twice), Jacob Bethell (twice), Jos Buttler (four) and Curran were all out within 12 overs at Bay Oval, with the tourists slumping to 10-4 and 56-6 after coming on.
In response, England reduced New Zealand to 24-3 within five overs. Brydon Kearse (3-45) hit Kane Williamson for his maiden ODI golden duck, but a dropped catch ultimately cost the tourists and the hosts won with 80 balls in the bank. Darryl Mitchell (78 no for 91) finished with a legside four from Adil Rashid (1-69).
Michael Bracewell (51 off 51) was spilled two by Root at slip and Mitchell was spilled 33 by Luke Wood at backward point in a five-wicket stand of 92, but Kearse glassed Mitchell Sander (27 off 25) for two ounces at deep fine leg.
The Black Caps take a 1-0 lead in the second ODI in Hamilton on Wednesday (1am UK) and the series concludes next Saturday in Wellington, after which England will turn their full attention to the Ashes series in Australia from November 21.
Brook completed 11 sixes and nine fours during a rescue mission at Bay Oval.
If England are to take back the Urn from Australia, they will feel that Brook has to play a key role. If he wasn’t there against New Zealand on Sunday, it would have been a disaster.
Brook, who scored his first 36 runs, all within the boundaries, scored 87 off as many balls as Overton for the seventh wicket after other senior batsmen had failed, then went on to score 50 off 28 deliveries, adding 57 off 32 off his last Manwood (5 runs).
Brook went wild but sloppy England were eliminated.
The captain’s fireworks in that 10th wicket stand included three consecutive sixes from Jacob Duffy (3-55), three overs from Henry (2-53) and a fine pull-max from Nathan Smith, giving England a total fielding after New Zealand seamer Zach Foakes (4-41) dismissed three of the top four and No. 7 batsman Curran.
England’s top order deflated with Smith sheltered by Henry’s nipbacker, with Foakes hitting two in the third over. Duckett snuck in behind and Root cleaned up with a jagged ball.
New Zealand seam bowler Zak Foakes (right) dismisses Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Jacob Bethell and Sam Curran at Mt Maunganui
Then, at the start of the sixth over, Foakes hit Bethel’s off-stump with Jaffa, wicketkeeper Tom Latham removed Buttler with a blinder catch, and then Curran with a regulation grab, leaving England six down at 11.3. The bowlers were Henry and Fawkes respectively.
Duffy ended the partnership between Overton and Brook, forcing Kearse to pouch at backward point on his next delivery after Overton sliced into cover, and caught Rashid at midwicket four overs later. This was the cue for Brook to get furious before hole-out from Santner.
England took possession early on, with Kearse bowling Will Young (5), Williamson catching up with successive deliveries, and Wood taking Rachin Ravindra for 17 with a nimble run-a-ball, while Latham’s LBW dismissal to Kearse left the Black Caps tottering at 66-4 in 12 overs.
England seamer Brydon Kearse gives New Zealand great Kane Williamson his first ODI golden duck
Overton cut off Bracewell in the 27th over needing 66 runs and brought Santner to ground in the 35th over with 17 runs needed, with the New Zealand captain going for his third six off leg-spinner Rashid for four balls.
Two overs later, Mitchell smashed it over Rashid’s head for a maximum score and wrapped up the win with a fine leg four overs.
New Zealand vs England match results and schedule
UK and Ireland all the time
First T20 (Christchurch): Match abandoned ☔🤦Second T20 (Christchurch): England won by 65 runs 🔴Third T20 (Auckland): Match abandoned ☔🤦First ODI (Mount Maunganui): New Zealand won by four wickets ⚫Second ODI: Wednesday 29 October (1am) -Hamilton 3rd ODI: Saturday 1 November (1am) – Wellington
