England thrash New Zealand, win series
Devastating bowling from Steven Finn and a solid top-order batting display gave England a five wicket win over New Zealand in the deciding one-day international at Eden Park today to claim the series 2-1.
After New Zealand were dismissed for an unchallenging 185 in an innings that ended 37 balls short of their 50 overs, England overhauled the target in a rapid 37.3 overs.
The victory gives England a psychological boost going into the first Test on March 6 after earlier winning the Twenty20 series 2-1. Following the early dismissal of Ian Bell for 24, Alastair Cook (46) and Jonathan Trott (38) made the most of the flat track and short boundaries at Eden Park to effortlessly carve out a 67-run second-wicket partnership.
After they fell in quick succession, Joe Root (not out 28) and Eoin Morgan (39 off 24) put on 56 for the fourth wicket before Morgan departed, caught by a leaping Kyle Mills on the boundary. Jos Buttler came and went for three leaving Chris Woakes (not out three) to bat out the innings with Root whose undefeated stand lifted his average to an impressive 81.50 after eight ODI innings.
The match had belonged to England from the time Cook won the toss, elected to bowl and watched the New Zealand batting line up crumble. They struggled against the pace and accuracy of Finn and James Anderson and were 67 for five after 25 overs while England at the same stage were untroubled at 120 for three.
Ian Bell set the early pace reaching 24 off 22 balls before he top-edged Andrew Ellis to Hamish Rutherford at deep square leg.
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