New Zealand vs England, 2018: 4th ODI – Statistical Highlights

New Zealand maintained their unbeaten streak at the University Oval in Dunedin thanks to an innings of a lifetime from Ross Taylor battling out with cramps. Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root’s centuries ensured England scored at seven an over before their collapse began. From 267/1 in the 37th over, England ended up with 335/9 in the 50 overs scored only 68 runs in the last 75 deliveries. The home team lost both their openers for ducks but Ross Taylor played through the chase to level the series. He scored his career best of 181 off 147 balls with 17 fours and six sixes.

All the stats and numbers that were recorded during the high-scoring thriller at the University Oval:

4 – Only the 4th time a team won while chasing after losing both their opening for ducks. Sri Lanka was the last team to do when they defeated Afghanistan in the 2015 CWC at Dunedin only. India against West Indies in 1994 and England against India in 2007 are the others to chase down a target after losing openers for a duck. There are six other instances of teams winning while batting first after losing openers for ducks.

4 – New Zealand’s run chase in this game is their 4th successful run-chase of 330+ in the ODI cricket. Only India (5 times) won more often while chasing 330+ in ODIs. This was also the 3rd time when England failed to defend 330+ in this format. Only Australia (8 times) lost on more occasions while defending 330+ ODIs.

6 – Number of sixes Ross Taylor hit in this innings. In his previous 21 ODI innings, Taylor scored 950 runs in 1147 runs without hitting even one six.

11 – Number of centuries for Joe Root in the ODI format. These are the 2nd most by a player for England in this format behind Marcus Trescothick’s 12 tons. He is also the first England player to score more than one ODI ton in New Zealand.

138 – Jonny Bairstow’s 138 is the highest individual score for an England player in an ODI in New Zealand. Moeen Ali scored 128 against Scotland in the 2015 World Cup. Prior to this game, only Chris Broad (106) scored a century against New Zealand in New Zealand. Both Bairstow and Root scored tons in this match.

181* – Ross Taylor’s unbeaten 181 is the 3rd highest individual score by a New Zealand player in the ODI format. Martin Guptill scored 237* and 189* against West Indies in 2015 and England in 2013 respectively. Taylor’s 181 is the highest by an NZ player in a run-chase surpassing Martin Guptill’s 180* against South Africa in 2017.

181* – Ross Taylor’s 181 is the 2nd highest individual ODI score by a batsman batting at No.4 and a lower position. Sir Viv Richards scored 189* against England in 1984 and also scored 181 against Sri Lanka in 1987 while batting at No.4. Taylor is also the first No.4 and lower position batsman to score 150+ in an ODI chase. Marcus Stoinis’ unbeaten 146 against New Zealand last year was the previous highest in a chase.

339/5 – New Zealand’s total of 339/5 is the first 300+ ODI total by a team after losing the openers for ducks. India’s 280/7 against Zimbabwe while batting first in the 2004 Adelaide ODI was the previous highest after losing openers for ducks.