England failed to beat one other grim batting failure as New Zealand edged to a two-wicket victory within the third one-day worldwide in Wellington to ship the vacationers to Australia on the again of a 3-0 collection defeat.
England’s prime order folded as soon as extra, bowled out for the third match in a row to proceed a worrying development main into the Ashes later this month, earlier than New Zealand threatened to botch a chase of 223.
They have been cruising at 187-5, needing solely 35 from 87 balls, solely to lose captain Mitchell Santner for 27 and Daryl Mitchell for 44 in a collapse of 3-8.
That left 27 to get with two wickets remaining however hope of an unlikely, morale-boosting victory for England was snuffed out by an unbroken ninth-wicket partnership between Zak Foulkes and Blair Tickner.
England’s bowling effort was admirable – this defeat as an alternative all the way down to their newest top-order collapse, which left them 44-5.
Joe Root was out for 2, captain Harry Brook six and Ben Duckett eight and so they solely cleared 200 due to Jamie Overton’s 68 – his first ODI fifty.
Seven of this XI now journey to Perth to ramp up their preparation for the highly-anticipated collection in opposition to Australia, which begins on 21 November.
They play just one warm-up – a three-day match in opposition to England Lions – leaving little alternative for these struggling batters to seek out type earlier than the collection opener.
Brook’s 50-over facet, in the meantime, have misplaced 11 of their 15 matches this yr and require an upturn in fortunes once they return to motion within the new yr or else their direct qualification for the 2027 World Cup will come below important menace.
