England beat New Zealand by four runs in a spectacular fight-back while defending a score of 234 in their third ODI match at Wellington on Saturday night.
England bowled out New Zealand for 230 after the home team was sitting pretty at 80 for 1.
With the dismissal of Colin Munro for 49, New Zealand kept losing wickets and it was left to skipper Kane Williamson to get on with the job. In the end Williamson was stranded on 112 as England’s spinning duo of Rashid and Moeen Ali accounted for five of the wickets.
From 103 for 6 the New Zealand pair of Williamson and Mitchell Santner rescued the side with a stand of 96 runs for the seventh wicket at which stage the latter was run out for 41 and with it went the hopes of the Kiwis.
England now leads the five match series 2-1.
England found it hard to come to grips with New Zealand’s bowlers as only Eoin Morgan (48) and Ben Stokes (39) put up some resistance before they were all out for 234 in the last ball of the 50th over.
Scores:
England 234 in 50 overs (Eoin Morgan 48, Ben Stokes 39, IS Sodhi 3 for 53, T. Boult 2 for 47)
New Zealand 230 in 50 overs (Colin Munro 49, Kane Williamson 112, M. Santner 41, Rashid 2 for 34, M Ali 3 for 36, C Wokes 2 for 40)