New Zealand levelled the Royal London One-Day International series at The Oval after producing a sublime batting performance centred around a Ross Taylor century, eventually winning by 13 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis Method, despite some stern English resistance.
The Black Caps reached the second monumental score of this series, ending on 398-5, as Taylor’s 119* built on the early good work of the top order. However, England’s batsmen ran the totals close thanks to half-centuries from Captain Eoin Morgan and Alex Hales.
Man-of-the-match Taylor said: “It was nice to get out there and hit some balls in the middle and regain a little bit of form.
“These games have been brilliant so far and I am hoping for more of the same when it comes to going to the Rose (Ageas) Bowl on Sunday.”
Winning the toss and choosing to bat first, the visitors set out to hit their opponents out of the game.
Captain Brendon McCullum set the early tone; smashing a quickfire 39 from 22 balls before Liam Plunkett’s introduction brought his demise, caught by a back peddling midwicket when trying to pull.
Martin Guptill had played more sedately at the other end but came out of his shell after the departure of McCullum, going to 50 and pushing the Kiwis’ score past 100.
However, he couldn’t add to his half century, picking out Chris Jordan at midwicket off Ben Stokes when trying to flick off his hips.
That brought together the partnership that set up the mammoth total for the visitors, Kane Williamson being joined by Taylor. They put on 121 for the third wicket in less than 18 overs as all the England bowlers came under fire, Jordan in particular having his figures damaged, his nine overs going for 97 runs.
The hosts did make a breakthrough in the 36th over, Williamson dismissed by a full toss from Stokes that was originally called a no-ball before being overturned on review, for an 88-ball 93.
Taylor remained though and – alongside cameos from Grant Elliott (32 off 15) and Luke Ronchi (33 off 16) – he pushed the tourists up to 398-5, Taylor ending on 119 off just 96 balls.
Jason Roy and Hales came out swinging and got the hosts off to a flier, adding 85 inside the first 13 overs. However, the chase seemed to be derailed when Roy was dismissed by Nathan McCullum and Alex Hales, who scored his maiden ODI fifty, and Joe Root fell to the sweep in the same Mitchell Santner over, England finding themselves three down for 100.
But once again the match turned on its head as Ben Stokes scored 28 from 17 balls and shifted the momentum back to the hosts. Morgan and Jos Buttler continued that middle order push with the Captain leading the way, moving to a 28-ball half century. By the 30 over mark England had turned the equation into a gettable target of 158 from the last 20 overs with Morgan unbeaten on 77 from 37 balls.
However, England’s momentum was once again stalled, Jos Buttler caught behind off Trent Boult for 41 from 38 and Morgan’s innings finally coming to an end when he became Mitchell McClenaghan’s second wicket, out for 88 from 47 balls off the second ball of the batting powerplay.
The powerplay saw Sam Billings caught at point for 12, Boult’s second wicket of the innings before Adil Rashid and Liam Plunkett put up a valiant late effort as England refused to give up their pursuit.
The pair put on 70 runs in 7.4 overs but were just behind the rate when the rain fell, seemingly ending the game with the hosts needing 54 runs off the final 37 balls.
The players did get a chance to get back to the field but by this time the equation for England to win had moved to an unlikely 34 runs off 13 balls. Liam Plunkett (44) and Adil Rashid (34) both fell in that short period going for quick runs and England needed 24 off the final over, something they couldn’t manage with Chris Jordan and Steven Finn closing the innings at 365-9 from 46 overs.
The rain-affected win for New Zealand means the sides go to The Ageas Bowl on Sunday level in the series at 1-1 with three enthralling games of cricket to come.