In a dramatic Fourth T20 encounter at Trent Bridge, New Zealand beat England by six wickets to level the series.
The standout was Jonny Bairstow, who scored 73 off 41 balls. On a warm Nottingham evening, his blazing century set the Kiwis 176 target.
The Black Caps’ spinners, headed by Mitchell Santner, came back to reduce England to 175 for eight. Santner took three key wickets, including Bairstow.
New Zealand had a different storyline despite Bairstow’s early heroics. Tim Seifert, Glenn Phillips, and Mark Chapman led the chase to win in roughly three overs.
Two wickets from England debutant Rehan Ahmed made an impression.
Due to a shoulder injury, Bairstow had to give up wicket-keeping. England was taking no risks with the dynamic player ahead of the World Cup.
Bairstow’s effort matched his Nottingham Test match 136 against New Zealand last summer. His bold sixes and boundaries were impressive, but Daryll Mitchell grabbed him on the boundary and tempted him.
The stage was prepared for Harry Brook and Dawid Malan to take over. Before leaving after a quiet four off eight balls, Brook’s bold approach gave optimism. Malan failed to redeem himself, scoring 26 runs off 21 balls.
England’s innings was limited by New Zealand’s spinners’ six for 68. Rehan Ahmed’s debut paid off as he broke a key partnership with a run-out, leaving the Kiwis 73 for one.
Glenn Phillips hit the English spinners with booming sixes after Ahmed dismissed Seifert. The target shrank swiftly, and New Zealand won with 16 balls to spare, leveling the series.
England vs New Zealand Head-to-Head T20s:
- Matches Played: 25
- England Won: 16 – 64%
- New Zealand: 8 – 32%
- No Result: 1
