England v BLACKCAPS, Twenty20 International at Old Trafford, Manchester
England 191-7 in 20 overs (Root 68, Hales 27; Santner 2-28) beat the BLACKCAPS 135 all out in 16.2 overs (McCullum 35, Williamson 57; Willey 3-22, Wood 3-26) by 56 runs at Old Trafford
England continued its momentum from the One-Day International Series with a 56- run win over the BLACKCAPS in the lone T20 International at Old Trafford.
The home side, which had emulated the BLACKCAPS with an attacking brand of cricket to win the five-match ODI series 3-2, thrilled a sold-out crowd in Manchester when they won the final tour match against the BLACKCAPS in comfortable fashion.
England, in their neon orange T20i kit, got off to an electric start and posted a competitive 191-7, largely thanks to Joe Root (68 from 46 balls) who top scored and paced the innings superbly.
Joe Root was as explosive as he was inventive. Photos: Photosport.co.nz
Mitchell Santner (2-28 on Twenty20 International debut) and a resurgent Mitchell McClenaghan (2-37) were the best of the BLACKCAPS bowling attack.
Kane Williamson (a career-best 57, below), the man of the ODI series, was again near faultless, but his heroics weren’t enough as the run rate of 9.6 per over proved too much for the BLACKCAPS, who lost wickets at regular intervals around him.
BLACKCAPS opener Martin Guptill (6) had been bowled by Dan Willey in the opening over, but Brendon McCullum (35 from 15) helped them to get off to a flier regardless with a swashbuckling innings.
The BLACKCAPS skipper (below) was in a belligerent mood, hitting four sixes and two fours in his rapid innings before he was bowled by Mark Wood.
Williamson and Taylor (17 from 13), the mainstay of the BLACKCAPS' batting effort throughout the ODI series, formed a 41-run partnership and the only stand of note to get the visitors back in the match.
But critically the BLACKCAPS lost two wickets in six balls when Taylor was caught at long off and Colin Munro (1, below) was bowled the following over by Ben Stokes.
When Luke Ronchi (5, below, attempting to upper cut Ben Stokes) went soon after, the task was insurmountable for Williamson on his own.
After reaching his second career half century in T20is and then reaching a career best of 57, he was unlucky to be run out by a superb direct hit from David Willey. When Tim Southee went next ball to a sharp catch by Eoin Morgan from Mark Wood’s bowling, the locals had already begun their party.
Earlier in the evening, England skipper Morgan had won the toss and opted to bat on an attractive deck at the end of a sun-filled day.
His top order delivered a hectic start with Alex Hales (27 from 23 balls) and Jason Roy (23 from 13 balls) helping England to more than 10 an over in the early exchanges.
It came to an end when Williamson delivered a sharp piece of fielding to run out Roy in the third over, but England kept coming with Hales and Joe Root bringing up their 50 partnership from only 29 balls.
Santner, making his T20i debut for the BLACKCAPS after impressing in the ODI series, was utilised to economical effect at the front of the innings, then delivered an over that turned the match back in the visitor’s favour.
He removed Hales in his second spell – with McCullum trailing back to take a good catch at deep cover. Two balls later he sent back Johnny Bairstow (1) on his way when he bowled him with a beauty on the final ball of his over.
Morgan (4) went cheaply when he was well caught by Taylor at deep mid-wicket from the bowling of Matt Henry. After the helter-skelter start from England, the BLACKCAPS now had the advantage at 101-4 in the 12th over, but Root held the key for the hosts to post a sizeable total.
The Yorkshireman (68 from 46 balls) brought up his 50 from only 36 balls and continued to play freely until he was caught by the offside sweeper Guptill from the bowling of McClenaghan.
At the other end, Sam Billings (21 from 11 balls) and Stokes (24 from 13 balls) delivered stirring cameos to get the home side up to more than competitive total.
The BLACKCAPS will next be in action in August, when they travel to Zimbabwe and South Africa for a limited overs tour.
