[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

October

Sunday 27th - T20 vs NZ Cricket XI, Lincoln (England win by 6 wickets)
Tuesday 29th - T20 vs NZ Cricket XI, Lincoln (NZ Cricket XI win by 8 wickets)

November

Friday 1st - 1st T20I vs New Zealand, Christchurch (England win by 7 wickets)
Sunday 3rd - 2nd T20I vs New Zealand, Wellington (New Zealand win by 21 runs)
Tuesday 5th - 3rd T20I vs New Zealand, Nelson (New Zealand win by 14 runs)
Friday 8th - 4th T20I vs New Zealand, Napier (England win by 76 runs)
Sunday 10th - 5th T20I vs New Zealand, Auckland (Match tied, England win by 9 runs after super-over)
Tuesday 12th - FC (two-day) vs NZ Cricket XI, Whangarei (Match drawn)
Friday 15th - FC (three-day) vs New Zealand A, Whangarei (Match drawn)
Thursday 21st - 1st Test vs New Zealand, Mount Maunganui (New Zealand win by an innings and 65 runs)
Friday 29th - 2nd Test vs New Zealand, Hamilton (Match drawn)

[themaclad]

First Twenty20, Hagley Oval, Christchurch
New Zealand 153-5: Taylor 44, Jordan 2-28
England 154-3: Vince 59, Santner 3-23
England won by seven wickets; lead series 1-0
Scorecard
James Vince ensured England began their winter tour of New Zealand on a high with a seven-wicket victory in the first Twenty20 in Christchurch.

Vince struck a fine 59 off 38 balls as England reached a target of 154 with nine balls to spare in Chris Silverwood's first game as head coach.

Ross Taylor made 44 in New Zealand's 153-5, with Chris Jordan taking 2-28 and debutant Pat Brown 1-30.

The second game of the five-match series is in Wellington on Sunday.

England, who have rested several first-choice players, made the most of winning the toss, with New Zealand unable to find any fluency with the bat.

Although New Zealand left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner impressed with 3-23, England were always in control of what proved to be a simple run chase.

Vince has been a source of frustration throughout his international career, often criticised for making attractive starts but not converting them into match-winning scores.

With key players such as Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler missing the T20 series, Vince is among those given a chance to impress before next year's T20 World Cup in Australia.

He arrived with England 37-1, after an out-of-sorts Dawid Malan was caught at third man, and looked sharp, driving crisply and offering support to a set Jonny Bairstow.

Vince reached his maiden T20 international half-century from 33 balls and looked as though he would lead England home as he hit strike bowler Tim Southee for a towering straight six in the 15th over.

However, with 32 needed for victory he tamely chipped a full toss from Santner to Martin Guptill in the deep to end a 54-run partnership with captain Eoin Morgan.

Vince's dismissal may have briefly raised New Zealand's hopes but Morgan went on the attack before finishing the match with six over mid-wicket.

England's Sam Curran bowled Martin Guptill to claim his first T20 wicket
Batting was tricky on a slow pitch, but New Zealand were left to rue their sluggish start at the Hagley Oval.

They could muster only seven runs from the opening three overs, with brothers Sam and Tom Curran taking the pace off the ball.

Guptill's uncomfortable stay was ended when he dragged Tom Curran on, while a mixed Colin Munro innings saw him hit two sixes before being easily caught at mid-wicket.

The hosts stuttered along. The odd boundary was followed by scrambled singles, and it was not until the 14th over, when Taylor and Mitchell came together, that there was any urgency in the batting.

Mitchell drove the bowlers straight while Taylor was more leg side, with the two sharing a 56-run partnership until Taylor was well caught by Bairstow in the final over.

The England bowlers simply got to grips with the pitch quicker than the New Zealand batsmen. Brown impressed on debut, using his variations well in the final overs, while Jordan was accurate.

It was a pleasing start for former bowling coach Silverwood, who took over from Trevor Bayliss in October.

'Some people bat like accountants - but not Vince'
England captain Eoin Morgan on Test Match Special: "We're very proud of the way we played. The game was won and lost in the first innings.

"James Vince really was exceptional. He's very easy on the eye when he plays well, but on a wicket that doesn't necessarily allow the shots that he played to be played, it just shows how classy a player he is."

England batsman James Vince on TMS: "There are some world-class players not here, but it gives me and some other guys a great chance to stake a claim with the World Cup next year.

"I don't think there are many spots up for grabs, so it's going to be a tough one to break into. Hopefully it will be nice to get a run of games."

Ex-New Zealand captain Jeremy Coney on TMS: "Some people bat like accountants, but Vince doesn't at all.

"There was a lot to be gained - and England gained a lot more than New Zealand from the day. All the England bowlers can be relatively satisfied with how they've started this series."

England bowler Steven Finn on TMS: "That's the James Vince that I'm so used to bowling at in domestic cricket. He is an outstanding player, there is no doubt about that. He's a class player.

"There's always a cloud over his head, which is slightly unfair because I know how good a player he can be.

"If he can replicate how he plays for Hampshire in this series that will bear him in good stead."

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Recorded the match and avoided the result, just finished watching. Very convincing win, and great to see Pat Brown get his first international wicket on debut.

[themaclad]

Second Twenty20, Westpac Stadium, Wellington
New Zealand 176-8: Neesham 42 (22), Guptill 41 (28), Jordan 3-23
England 155: Malan 39 (29), Jordan 36 (19), Santner 3-25
New Zealand won by 21 runs; series level at 1-1

Chasing 177, England slipped to 3-2 after eight balls before being bowled out for 155 despite Dawid Malan's 39 and Chris Jordan's 19-ball 36 late on.

The returning Jimmy Neesham made 42 off 22 deliveries and Martin Guptill 41 in New Zealand's 176-8, with Jordan taking 3-23 and Sam Curran 2-22.

The third game of the five-match series is in Nelson at 01:00 GMT on Tuesday.

England, who have rested several first-choice players, restricted the Black Caps to what felt like a below-par total, despite dropping five catches, after winning the toss.

Although the pitch had more pace than the one in the series opener in Christchurch and the square boundaries were short, it never felt like England were in control of the chase.

New Zealand spinners Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi were impressive, taking a combined 5-62 from eight overs.

After handing debuts to three players in the seven-wicket win on Friday, England gave Lancashire pace bowler Saqib Mahmood his first cap in place of Tom Curran.

Mahmood, bowling in the powerplay and death overs, finished with 1-46 from four overs.

Having conceded 15 from his first over, he fought back well in his second by having Tim Seifert caught behind attempting to ramp.

Mahmood's final two overs, the 17th and 19th of the innings, went for 11 and 15 respectively, although he regularly found the block hole.

Fellow seamer Pat Brown, who took 1-33 on debut in the series opener, conceded 32 from two overs.

After not bowling or batting in the first game, Lewis Gregory struck with his first ball in international cricket as he nipped one back to bowl the dangerous Colin de Grandhomme, who made 28 from 12 balls.

While not new to international cricket, it was only Sam Curran's second T20 international appearance and he was again impressive in taking 2-22.

England will be disappointed with the quality of their fielding, however. Three of the five dropped catches were fairly routine, with James Vince spilling two simple chances and an extremely tough one.

Jimmy Neesham hit four of the 12 sixes in the New Zealand innings
Guptill, who made two from seven balls in the first T20, showed glimpses that he was finding rhythm again during his 28-ball innings.

Strong down the ground and through the on side, he gave New Zealand's innings impetus at the top of the order, something that was missing on Friday.

All-rounder Neesham had not featured in a T20 international since January 2017, but his impressive 50-over World Cup this summer - when he scored 232 runs and took 15 wickets - earned him a recall.

Based on Sunday's display, New Zealand have to find a way to get him into their side regularly.

Particularly strong on the leg side, left-handed Neesham also played one gorgeous inside-out shot over extra-cover off Mahmood that demonstrated his undeniable quality.

His contribution was integral to the Kiwis posting a target that proved comfortably beyond England.

England captain Eoin Morgan: "We were poor with the bat and in the field. We dropped a number of catches, although that probably didn't cost us the game. Our batting cost us the game - it was a beautiful wicket to bat on.

"We were in the game for a long time and considering we were way off the pace that's encouraging with a young inexperienced side.

"A lot of things can happen between now and the next game. Our mindset is important. It's important to make mistakes. The important part is learning from them."

New Zealand captain Tim Southee: "It was a better performance in all three areas. We knew England would go hard till the end and we saw how deep they bat with Chris Jordan.

"We executed things a little bit better. This is a different size ground and so is Nelson again on Tuesday. There's always subtle changes to grounds and then your plans.

"We're looking to continue to improve, in all three areas. You can never really play the perfect game but it's about the brand of cricket we want to play."

Man of the match Mitchell Santner: "It's nice to get a few poles. It was more of a complete performance today.

"We talked about being up a little bit more in the field. When they're backing the bowlers up it makes it that much easier. As a bowling group, it's a tough ground, so we had to adapt our plans."

England bowler Steven Finn on BBC Test Match Special: "It was a chaseable target but to lose five wickets in the first 10 overs is a pretty hard place to come back from. England were always one wicket behind.

"Putting down easy chances, and misfields, is a window into how the team is really getting on. New Zealand, on the other hand, were clinical."

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Game was lost in the field. Some really atrocious catching, with Vince the worst culprit.

[themaclad]

Third Twenty20, Saxton Oval, Nelson
New Zealand 180-7: De Grandhomme 55 (35), Guptill 33 (17), T Curran 2-29
England 166-7: Malan 55 (34), Vince 49 (39), Ferguson 2-25, Tickner 2-25
New Zealand won by 14 runs; lead 2-1 in series


Chasing 181, England were 139-2 with 31 balls remaining and seemingly cruising towards victory before they lost 5-10 in 18 balls.

Colin de Grandhomme made 55 in New Zealand's 180-7, with Tom Curran taking 2-29 and Matt Parkinson 1-14 on debut.

The fourth game of the five-match series is in Napier at 05:00 GMT on Friday.

With England looking set for victory, captain Eoin Morgan was caught at deep mid-wicket off the final ball of the 14th over.

Sam Billings was then run out second ball by a brilliant piece of fielding from Colin Munro before James Vince picked out mid-off to fall for 49.

Lockie Ferguson dismissed Lewis Gregory and Sam Curran in the 18th over and England never recovered.

England's chase started perfectly as Tom Banton, on debut, and Dawid Malan took 25 off the first two overs.

Banton played a glorious off-drive before lofting Ferguson over mid-wicket for a mighty six. The 20-year-old Somerset opener was soon bowled, attempting to ramp, but his 10-ball 18 was a glimpse of his undeniable talent.

Malan batted beautifully for a 34-ball 55. He was strong all round the wicket, with a number of superb cover drives, before he clothed a filthy full toss from Ish Sodhi to Martin Guptill at deep mid-wicket.

Malan's dismissal gave Vince impetus as he was struggling at less than a run a ball before three fours and a six in four balls kick-started his innings and England's chase.

They looked to be cruising towards their target after partnerships of 63 and 49 respectively between Malan and Vince, and then Vince and Morgan.

However, the collapse that followed ended England's hopes of taking a series lead.

New Zealand's total, after winning the toss, was built around the power of Guptill and De Grandhomme.

Guptill took a liking to Saqib Mahmood, who struggled with his line on his second appearance, in a blistering 17-ball 33 before Tom Curran took a fine catch over his shoulder at deep extra cover in the swirling wind.

De Grandhomme came to the crease in the next over after Mahmood held Munro at short third man off Tom Curran.

De Grandhomme also found Mahmood, who went for 1-49 from four overs, easy to score off as he hit two fours and a six in the seventh over.

The imposing all-rounder did struggle against the leg-spin of Parkinson, despite hitting one glorious inside-out cover drive for six.

Tim Seifert was bowled attempting to reverse sweep as Parkinson finished with 1-14 from two overs, while De Grandhomme holed out at long-on off the impressive Tom Curran.

But Ross Taylor hit 27 off 24 balls, Jimmy Neesham 20 off 15 and Mitchell Santner 15 off nine as New Zealand posted a target beyond England for the second successive game.

England captain Eoin Morgan: "That's one that got away from us. We were in control in the whole chase before we went three or four down.

"The lack of experience may have cost us. The game plan remains the same - everything we do is about positive, smart, aggressive cricket. It's a must-win game in Napier."

New Zealand captain Tim Southee: "As long as Morgan was in they had a sniff, especially with James Vince in and playing well, but we knew if we kept taking wickets it would get tough.

"There are still areas we need to improve on but it's nice to win games like that, that can go either way at the halfway point and during the second innings."

England bowler Steven Finn on BBC Test Match Special: "Those five wickets in three overs ripped the heart out of England's reply.

"The outfielding was good, the bowling performance was good. Up until the point where they lost those wickets, they were in control. But it was a bit of a capitulation at the end."

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Bit disappointing that one, but realistically it's an England side full of new blood against a full-strength first-choice Kiwi XI. Malan batted well, if he hadn't holed out on that rank full-toss I think we'd have won at a canter.

[themaclad]

Did actually see the latter end of this one Parkinson could quite easily have had six wickets took some stick but boundary was short on the leg side.

Fourth Twenty20, McLean Park, Napier
England 241-3: Malan 103* (51), Morgan 91 (41)
New Zealand 165: Southee 39, Parkinson 4-47, Jordan 2-24
England won by 76 runs; series level at 2-2
Dawid Malan hit the fastest T20 century by an England batsman as the tourists crushed New Zealand by 76 runs in Napier to level the five-match series with one game remaining.

On an astonishing night, Malan struck 103 from 51 balls to become the second England player to make a T20 ton.

Captain Eoin Morgan made 91 from just 41 balls as England posted their highest T20 total of 241-3.

Leg-spinner Matt Parkinson took 4-47 as New Zealand were dismissed for 165.

The final match takes place in Auckland on Sunday at 01:00 GMT.

In a brutal display, Malan reached three figures from just 48 balls, hitting a ragged New Zealand attack for nine fours and six sixes.

He and Morgan put on 182 runs - the highest stand for England in a T20 international - in just 12.2 overs.

Alex Hales is the only other England international to make a T20 century, having made an unbeaten 116 from 64 balls against Sri Lanka in 2014.

New Zealand could not match England's hitting as they were dismissed with 19 balls remaining, with all five of England's bowlers claiming at least one wicket.

England were 18-1 in the early stages of the match but that was a distant memory by the time Morgan was dismissed in the final over.

Napier might be a small ground but Morgan and Malan produced a stunning display of hitting to power England to their match-winning total.

No bowler was allowed to settle. Leg-spinner Ish Sodhi had his final over smashed for 28 by Malan while Blair Tickner, so economical in the third T20, was taken for 50 from his four overs.

The two came together in the eighth over and Morgan showed his intent as he dispatched his sixth ball for six. Helped by New Zealand's poor discipline, the two plundered the bowling - Morgan hit straight while Malan went square.

They never looked troubled, their hard hitting allowing the ball to evade the fielders. Malan's half-century came from 31 balls, while Morgan's, brought up just three balls after Malan, was from 21. From there, the pace only accelerated.

Dot balls were a rarity in the final few overs as Malan moved smoothly towards his century. His sixth six of the evening, brought up off New Zealand's premier bowler Trent Boult, took him to a superb century.

It looked as though Morgan would match him as he swiped the third ball of the final over for six, but he holed out in the deep to fall nine runs short.

The England captain had said at the toss that he would have bowled first. As he left the field, he may have been relieved that the decision was taken out of his hands.

New Zealand had the chance to clinch a series victory and, having dismissed Jonny Bairstow cheaply and trapped Tom Banton lbw just as his innings began to fire after opting to bowl, they were in a strong position.

However, their discipline crumbled as Malan and Morgan attacked, with even the returning Boult unable to stop the boundaries from flowing.

They made a frenetic start with the bat, racing to 49-0 inside the first four overs as Martin Guptill hit Chris Jordan out of the ground, but the innings stuttered along.

Only five players reached double figures and stand-in captain Tim Southee was the top-scorer as he hit out from the number eight spot.

England's fielding was not at its best, with Pat Brown dropping two chances off Parkinson, but ultimately it was enough to take the series into a deciding match.

England batsman Dawid Malan, speaking to Sky Sports: "It's not often in your career everything comes off, it was a lot of fun out there.

"I felt rusty in the first game of the series but it's felt smoother and smoother. I said this morning that I felt I had got rid of the rust and thankfully it clicked here.

"Morgs came out and changed the momentum of the game and I piggy-backed that."

England bowler Steven Finn on Test Match Special: "It was a professional performance from England. They managed to turn the screw when needed.

"Dawid Malan takes pride in being able to pace his innings, judge who to attack and when to attack them and he did that really well today."

England captain Eoin Morgan: "It was quite a clinical performance. Myself and Dawid have played for a long time together at Middlesex and we know each other pretty well.

"It was enjoyable, we had a lot of laughs out there. It was a beautiful wicket to bat on."

New Zealand stand-in captain Tim Southee: "That can happen in Twenty20 cricket, in two days time we've got another chance to go out and win the series.

"You have to go out and believe when you're chasing a target like that, we got off to a good start but whenever we looked like getting away they took wickets.

[Lord Snooty]

Good old Yorkshire lad, that Malan.

[themaclad]

Fifth Twenty20, Eden Park, Auckland
New Zealand 146-5: Guptill 50 (20), Munro 46 (21)
England 146-7: Bairstow 47 (18), Santner 2-20
England 17, New Zealand 8 in super over
England won by nine runs in super over; England won series 3-2


In a repeat of July's World Cup final, the scores were tied at the end of a wildly unpredictable game in Auckland.

New Zealand plundered 146-5 from 11 overs, and it took Chris Jordan hitting 12 off the final three deliveries to take the game to a super over.

Jonny Bairstow, who earlier struck 47 off 18 balls, and captain Eoin Morgan scored 17 off England's six deliveries, before Jordan limited New Zealand to eight.

It was a remarkable finish to a rain-delayed game that contained a staggering 29 sixes in 24 overs.

While England, who won the World Cup final by virtue of scoring more boundaries, held their nerve in admittedly less pressurised circumstances, New Zealand will take little comfort from once again missing out by the thinnest of margins.

If the two-Test series which starts on 21 November comes close to matching the excitement on offer at Eden Park, supporters from both sides can have no complaints.

There were several moments around which this game hinged: Bairstow's three sixes in a row off Ish Sodhi; Jordan's four off the final delivery to tie the scores; and Morgan's stunning catch over his shoulder as he ran back from cover to remove Tim Seifert from the fourth ball of the super over.

But Jordan's nerveless display with the ball deserves particular praise, given the batting pyrotechnics which had gone before.

On a pitch that offered the bowlers no assistance, and on a ground with boundaries so short that mis-hits frequently cleared the rope, his yorkers restricted Seifert and Martin Guptill to a two, a four and two singles.

England's celebrations may not have matched those at Lord's on 14 July, but they can be rightly proud of the manner in which they pulled off an away series win with a squad featuring six T20 debutants.

Victory in the Tests would cap an impressive first series for new England coach Chris Silverwood.

Jonny Bairstow hit five sixes and two fours in his 47, then scored eight off three balls in the super over
Bairstow bullies New Zealand after Guptill goes large
That Guptill's 19-ball fifty, Colin Munro's equally savage 46 off 21 deliveries and Seifert's 39 off 16 will go down as footnotes in this memorable match says much for the excitement that followed.

Man of the match Bairstow was almost solely responsible for leading England's pursuit, which veered between probable and unlikely amid a barrage of brutal hitting and clumps of wickets.

Requiring more than 13 runs an over from the beginning, England lost Tom Banton, James Vince and Morgan in slipping to 39-3.

But Bairstow, pummelling the short, straight boundaries, added 61 in four overs with the resourceful Sam Curran before he became the first of three wickets to fall in four balls.

Sam Billings and Tom Curran kept England afloat - just - but three runs and the departure of Curran off the first three balls of Jimmy Neesham's last over left new man Jordan needing 12 off three.

No bother. He swatted a full toss over long-off for six, scampered a two, then swung to fine leg for four to tie the scores. Given what took place four months ago, perhaps it was no surprise.
England captain Eoin Morgan on BBC Test Match Special: "It's absolutely remarkable. We didn't expect to play much cricket today and it's turned out to be an epic end to a series where there wasn't much between the two sides.

"To win it in such fashion with a young, inexperienced side in the long term will pay huge dividends for us."

England batsman Jonny Bairstow: "It was manic. The way they came out and put on that total was very, very impressive. It was a pretty imposing total but we thought we had a chance.

"We don't want to keep making a habit of super overs. It just shows how close the sides are. It sets up a fantastic Test series."

England bowler Chris Jordan: "A few of us have played T10 cricket so the mood was very calm the entire way through. I just tried to keep a clear mind.

"I'd bowled a super over before in Sharjah against Pakistan, so it was more or less going through processes and letting what will be will be."

BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew: "It was fitting that the last match of this series should end in a super over.

"It's been as difficult to separate these two teams now as it was in the World Cup final - but this time, England's victory was emphatic."

New Zealand captain Tim Southee: "The shorter the game, the harder the side can go. It would have been nice to have one more run there somewhere but it wasn't to be.

"It's been a good series throughout - it has ebbed and flowed. It will be good to get the whites back on."