In the third One Day International (ODI) held in Wellington, New Zealand secured a two-wicket victory over England, clinching the series 3-0. England’s batting woes continued, as they struggled to post a competitive total, raising concerns ahead of the Ashes.
England’s Batting Collapse
England’s top order faced another disappointing performance, bowled out for the third consecutive match. They were all out for 222 runs, leaving them with a lot to ponder before their upcoming matches.
- Joe Root contributed only two runs.
- Captain Harry Brook scored six runs.
- Ben Duckett managed eight runs.
- Jamie Overton was the standout performer with a score of 68, marking his first ODI fifty.
This latest defeat marks a troubling trend where England lost 11 out of 15 matches this year. With the Ashes series around the corner, their batting lineup is under significant pressure to improve.
New Zealand’s Chase
In the run chase, New Zealand faced challenges as they lost their captain, Mitchell Santner, who scored 27, along with Daryl Mitchell at 44. After reaching 187-5, they found themselves in a precarious position with just two wickets left.
However, Zak Foulkes and Blair Tickner formed an unbroken partnership that guided them to victory, securing the series win. This partnership proved crucial after a brief collapse that saw New Zealand lose three wickets for only eight runs.
Upcoming Challenges for England
With their departure to Australia imminent, seven players from the England squad will head to Perth. Their preparation includes a single warm-up match against the England Lions. The limited time to regroup puts additional pressure on the struggling batsmen.
England needs to find their form quickly. The series against Australia begins on November 21, and the team’s qualification for the 2027 World Cup could be at risk if their performance does not improve significantly.
