- New Zealand secures a dominant 74-run victory over England in the third T20I, led by Finn Allen’s explosive batting and impressive bowling performances from Kyle Jamieson and Ish Sodhi.
- England’s batting crumbles as they are bowled out for 128 runs, failing to chase down New Zealand’s target of 203, with Kyle Jamieson and Ish Sodhi leading the Kiwi bowling attack with three wickets each.
New Zealand delivered a commanding performance, clinching a resounding 74-run victory over England in the third T20 International (T20I) at Birmingham on Sunday. Finn Allen’s explosive knock, supported by Glenn Phillips’ power-hitting and formidable bowling displays from Kyle Jamieson and Ish Sodhi, propelled New Zealand to a crucial win in the series.
Having elected to bat first, New Zealand faced an early setback with the dismissal of opener Devon Conway for 9, courtesy of a run-out by Moeen Ali and skipper Jos Buttler. The Kiwis were at 31/1 in 3.5 overs, but they soon regained their momentum. At the conclusion of the powerplay, New Zealand had reached 48/1 in six overs.
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Finn Allen and Tim Seifert forged a resilient partnership of 44 runs, which was disrupted when Liam Livingstone removed Seifert for 19 runs off 17 balls. The score stood at 75/2 in 9.1 overs. Allen then showcased his prowess by reaching his half-century in just 35 balls, featuring four boundaries and three sixes. New Zealand’s total crossed the 100-run mark in the 12th over.
Allen and Glenn Phillips combined forces to unleash a ferocious attack, rapidly reaching their 50-run partnership in a mere 31 balls. The team reached the 150-run milestone in 16.1 overs. Allen’s exceptional innings eventually concluded at 83 off 53 balls, including four boundaries and six towering sixes, courtesy of Luke Wood’s intervention. At this juncture, New Zealand stood at 163/3 in 17 overs.
Glenn Phillips followed suit, achieving his fifty in just 27 balls with five fours and two sixes, before being dismissed by Gus Atkinson for a powerful 69 off 34 balls, adorned with five fours and five sixes. New Zealand concluded their innings with a formidable total of 202/5 in 20 overs. Atkinson, impressing in his debut series, claimed figures of 2/31 to lead England’s bowling attack, while Livingstone and Luke each secured a wicket.
As England set out to chase down 203 runs, their innings began on a turbulent note, losing Will Jacks, Dawid Malan, and Jonny Bairstow in quick succession. This flurry of wickets left them at 30/3 in 6.1 overs. Jos Buttler and Harry Brook attempted to rejuvenate the innings, but Sodhi’s double strike, coupled with contributions from Jamieson and Tim Southee, curtailed their progress. Brook’s dismissal for eight left England reeling at 55/4 in 8.3 overs.
Despite Buttler’s aggressive approach and a resilient effort to breach the 100-run mark, his departure for 40 off 21 balls, caught and bowled by Mitchell Santner, marked a turning point for England. With Moeen Ali’s dismissal, England’s fate was sealed, and they were eventually bundled out for 128 in 18.3 overs. Jamieson and Sodhi excelled with the ball, clinching three wickets each, while Tim Southee and Matt Henry also made notable contributions.
Also See: New Zealand tour of England, 2023
Finn Allen’s dynamic performance earned him the prestigious “Player of the Match” award, solidifying New Zealand’s triumph in the third T20I encounter. The series now stands at 2-1 in favor of England, with a thrilling finale on the horizon.
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