New Zealand win 3rd T20I; England lead four-match series 2-1
New Zealand beat England in the 3rd T20I at Edgbaston, Birmingham. The Black Caps successfully defended 202/5, having restricted the home side to 128/10. Leg-spinner Ish Sodhi and pacer Kyle Jamieson took three wickets each. Earlier, Finn Allen and Glenn Phillips played scintillating knocks to guide NZ past 200. Nevertheless, the hosts lead the four-match series 2-1. Here are the key stats.
How did the match pan out?
New Zealand had a steady start after electing to bat. Although Devon Conway departed early, Allen and Phillips got England past 150. Mark Chapman and Daryl Mitchell added 16 more runs as NZ got to 202/5 in 20 overs. Only Jos Buttler (40) looked promising for England as they got bowled out. Moeen Ali was the only other batter to score over 20.
NZ bowlers rule to roost
For New Zealand, Kyle Jamieson (3/23), Ish Sodhi (3/33), and skipper Tim Southee (2/30) shared eight wickets. Southee, the leading wicket-taker in T20I cricket, has raced to 144 wickets. He leads Shakib Al Hasan by four wickets. Sodhi, the fourth-highest wicket-taker, now owns 124 wickets in the format. Jamieson, who is comparatively new to the format, recorded his career-best figures in T20I cricket.
Sodhi attains this monumental feat
As many as 44 of Sodhi's wickets in T20I cricket have come away from home (the opposition's home). The New Zealand wrist-spinner is now the leading wicket-taker in the format overseas. He surpassed England's Chris Jordan, who has taken 43 wickets in this regard. Notably, Sodhi, Jordan, and Adil Rashid are the only bowlers to have taken over 40 away wickets in T20Is.
Allen slams his third T20I fifty
NZ opener Finn Allen kept the scoreboard ticking even though they lost Conway early on. The former went on to smash 83 off 53 balls, a knock laced with 4 fours and 6 sixes. He had a strike rate of 156.60 in the match. It was his third half-century in the shortest format. The tally includes a solitary ton.
Allen reaches this landmark
As per Opta, Allen's 83 is now the highest individual score by a New Zealand batter against England in men's T20Is. He has surpassed the legendary Brendon McCullum's 74 in February 2013.
Ninth T20I fifty for Phillips
Phillips came to the middle after NZ were reduced to 75/2. They had lost Conway and Tim Seifert by then. Phillips then added 88 runs along with Allen to power the Kiwi innings. The former smashed a 34-ball 69, a knock studded with 5 fours and as many sixes (SR: 202.94). It was his ninth half-century in the shortest format.
England eye history against NZ
New Zealand have nine wins and 15 defeats against the Brits in T20Is (NR: 1). The two sides also played out a tie in 2019. The Englishmen won that duel in the Super Over. The series opener marked NZ's first T20I assignment in England since 2015. Notably, England could win their third consecutive series against New Zealand in the format.
