Eoin Morgan and Joe Root hit centuries as England level ODI series with New Zealand
Saturday 20 June 2015 16:34, UK
Eoin Morgan and Joe Root scored centuries as England levelled the ODI series against New Zealand with a superb win at Trent Bridge.
England chased down 350 - the joint-fourth highest chase in ODI history - to win by seven wickets and draw level after successive losses in the previous two games.
Morgan struck his eighth ODI hundred - passing 50 for the fourth successive time - and Root bagged a sixth ton, his second in the series, as the hosts completed the joint fourth-highest chase of all time.
This was another illustration of England’s new attacking style but while that brave new approach had failed to produce victories in the previous two matches, in this instance it delivered a successful run chase and a glorious victory.
The sides are now locked at 2-2 in the five-match series, with the decider at Chester-le-Street on Saturday.
Kane Williamson had scored 90 in New Zealand’s strong 349-7 on a good Nottingham wicket with Grant Elliott adding 55 and an explosive late cameo from Mitchell Santner contributing 44.
It was a difficult night for fielders and bowlers of both sides, but England made the breakthrough when Mark Wood found an excellent line which Brendan McCullum nicked to wicket-keeper Jos Buttler for 35.
Martin Guptill struck the four which brought up his half-century in the 17th over, a deliciously-timed drive to bring up 53 from 59 balls.
But Guptill’s innings did not last much longer, Stephen Finn producing an excellent catch on the run at mid-wicket to pouch his lofted drive of Ben Stokes’ slower ball to make it 116-2.
Despite that setback, New Zealand continued to score steadily, with Kane Williamson reaching his fifty from 39 balls and with a flicked single off Stokes.
The 200 was brought up in grand style, Williamson hitting Adil Rashid for a straight six, as the tourists began to find their scoring groove in the late-middle part of the innings.
Finn trapped Taylor (42) leg before wicket with a full and straight delivery which the batsman attempted to slog but the scoreline at that stage remained a commanding 217-3.
The Middlesex seamer almost got Grant Elliott out when captain Eoin Morgan failed to hold what would have been a superb diving catch at full length and, from the next ball, Elliott hit a six.
Willey took the key wicket of Williamson 42nd over when, having made 90 off 70 balls, he carved a poor shot to Rashid at mid-on, who caught it above his head.
The Northants all-rounder then accounted for Luke Ronchi, who flicked one down the leg side but straight to Stokes before Elliott progressed to a fifty of his own, from 46 balls.
New Zealand accelerated the scoring rate towards the end of their overs, left-hander Mitchell Santner hitting four sixes and a four in Rashid’s final over.
England’s response was strong from start to finish. They hit 69 without loss from the first eight overs before rain arrived and around 20 minutes was lost, but it did nothing to slow their momentum.
Alex Hales was in sparkling form on his home ground, blasting two fours and two sixes in Mitchell McClenaghan’s first over after the delay before falling for 67 when he dragged Matt Henry’s delivery onto his own stumps when attempting to hit across the line.
Jason Roy (38) was next to go, Williamson taking an excellent, instinctive catch at extra cover off Henry’s bowling but Root and Morgan steadied the ship with some superbly-controlled scoring and, once set, began to enjoy themselves with some fine shot selections.
The pair added 198 for the third wicket and Root passed the milestone of 2,000 ODI runs during his own century.
Morgan reached 103 from 73 balls with 11 fours and five sixes and went on to score 113 before hooking Tim Southee to Henry at square leg.
By that time, England were in a commanding position, requiring just 41 to win from 64 balls with seven wickets in hand.
Root completed his century with a degree of good fortune, slicing a top edge into deep mid-wicket but beyond the despairing dive of the fielder. It was no less than he deserved for the quality of his play.
He eventually scored 106 from 97 balls, with Stokes contributing a typically brisk 19 to complete a fine win.
Watch England take on New Zealand in the fifth, final and deciding one-day international from 10am on Sky Sports 2 this Saturday.
