NZ vs ENG, 3rd ODI Review: England clinch an absolute thriller; Williamson's hundred goes in vain

Talk about few of the best-limited overs sides in the world right now, Eoin Morgan’s England side will be right up there amongst the best. Once again, they showed their class in a nervy situation and both these amazing cricketing nations pulled off another classic encounter in this series. England goes 2-1 up in the series with the pressure right back on Williamson and troops.

Batting first, Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow had to face the new ball music of Tim Southee and Trent Boult. Both these bowlers collaborated brilliantly as they always do to restrict the flow of runs. Eventually, Jason Roy was dismissed in the 8th over. Joe Root and Bairstow tried to get a partnership going, but both lost their wickets in a span of 17 balls to put the hosts on top.

The English contingent was struggling at 68/3 after 17 overs with the skipper Eoin Morgan and Ben Stokes in the middle. The duo consolidated the innings with a decent partnership. They realized the ball was not coming on to the bat as well as it did in the T20s here, hence they decided to approach a bit cautiously. They added 71 runs for the 4th wicket before Morgan fell two runs short of a fifty.

Stokes added another 29-run stand with Jos Buttler, but the pressure of scoring runs got the better of him. Buttler, Moeen Ali, and Chris Woakes played some big shots towards the end, but they could only manage to score 234 runs before getting bowled out off the final ball of the innings.

Ish Sodhi returned with figures of 2/53 and is continuing his outstanding form. Boult picked up a brace giving away 47 runs. Colin de Grandhomme surprised everyone with a brilliant performance, picking up one wicket and giving away just 24 runs in his 10 overs.

Teammates let down Williamson

Kane Williamson was coming back to the XI after suffering an injury but he didn’t seem uncomfortable at any point. But his teammates let him down in a crucial encounter and eventually, they surrendered the game which went to the final ball.

Martin Guptill was dismissed in the 3rd over the innings and after that, Munro and Williamson took the responsibility to take their side home. They did a wonderful job whilst tackling the new ball and played smart cricket. Munro was the aggressor in this partnership whilst the skipper silently accumulated some crucial runs.

The game turned on its head when Munro was dismissed for 49 in the 18th over. The scorecard read 80/2 at that point. The middle order gave up on the match and followed a cue towards the dressing room, with Williamson helplessly watching the drama unfold from the other end. From 80/1, they were reduced to 103/6 in no time. Moeen Ali was the main tormentor, picking the dangerous trio of Chapman, Grandhomme, and Latham.

Williamson kept fighting and the only person in the middle order who helped his cause was Mitchell Santner, who already played a blinder in the first game. Santner and Williamson ensured no more wickets fell and kept the scoreboard ticking. The duo added an invaluable 96-run stand for the 7th wicket, which reignited the spirits of the home fans.

Santner ran himself out for 41 at a wrong time, but Williamson kept marching on and completed his hundred. It all came down to 15 in the last over and Williamson hit a six over square leg off the 3rd ball. But Chris Woakes proved to be too good for the Kiwis as he managed to defend 7 runs in the last three balls showing great character. The hosts fell 4 runs short of England’s total and find themselves 2-1 down in the series.

Brief Scores

England: 234 all out in 50 overs (Eoin Morgan 48, Ben Stokes 39; Ish Sodhi 3/53)

New Zealand: 230/8 in 50 overs (Kane Williamson 112*; Moeen Ali 3/35, Adil Rashid 2/34, Chris Woakes 2/40)

Player of the match: Moeen Ali