England’s batting line-up slumped for the second time in four days as Harry Brook’s side lost the one-day international series in New Zealand ahead of the Ashes.
England lost the second ODI in Hamilton on Wednesday for 175 with a loss of five wickets, but eighth-placed Jamie Overton (42 off 28 balls) was their top scorer as they rolled for 223 in a four-wicket reversal in the first match at Mt Maunganui on Sunday.
Jofra Archer (3-23), playing his first ODI against New Zealand since scoring the match-winning super over in the 2019 World Cup final, produced a fine performance from start to finish, pinning Will Young (0) in the first over of Wicket Maiden and bowling 51 dots and four Maidens.
New Zealand were teetering at 118-5 after 28 overs after the pacemen removed Michael Bracewell (5) on the last ball and also factored in Rachin Ravindra (54), but only Daryl Mitchell (56 no) and captain Mitchell Santner (34 not off 17) smashed back-to-back 59s off 32 and sealed victory with 101 deliveries in the bank.
Jofra Archer impressed with England’s ball at Seddon Park
Brook was unable to back up his impressive 135 off 101 deliveries in the series opener and was sent off for 34 run-a-balls as Young took an acrobatic grab at backward point.
The captain’s fellow Ashes batsmen Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith, Joe Root and Jacob Bethell all worked again in the weeks following the first Test against Australia.
Although Duckett (1) beat Jacob Duffy in three overs and three other players reached double figures (more than in the first ODI), England’s innings lasted just 26 overs at Seddon Park, falling to 13, 25 and 18 respectively.
Bethel’s dismissal was perhaps the most frustrating as the 21-year-old took a short ball from Nathan Smith (2-27) into deep square shortly after the drinks break and once again failed to make a case for dislodging England’s Ashes number three Ollie Pope.
More to come…
Jamie Overton tops score for England with 42 off 28 balls
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