England's 'M&M' factor pays off as visitors beat NZ to level series

Visitors England edge past Blackcaps by 76 runs in fourth T20 at McLean Park in Napier. In a match that England needed to win to keep five-match series alive, witnessed visitors wreak havoc upon New Zealand, as y amassed massive 243 runs in first innings itself for hosts to chase. final and deciding T20 between two will be played on vember 10 in Auckland. 

New Zealand batting crumbles under pressure

New Zealand got off to a decent start in order to chase down 244. Martin Guptil and Colin Munro kept New Zealand scorecard ticking as y tched 27 and 30 runs respectively. However, once Guptill fell, New Zealand batting crumbled as y lost wickets in quick succession. At end of 12th over itself, Blackcaps were reduced to 126/6, courtesy of Matw Parkinson who picked up 3 wickets for England. Tim Soue showed promise to resurrect dead innings by smashing 39 runs off just 15 balls. 

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'M&M' Factor pays off for England

As England wreaked havoc upon Blackcaps, y also broke several records on ir way to register 243/3 in first innings. innings witnessed highest total registered by England in T20 format and also England's highest partnership for any wicket as Morgan and Malan (M&M) clubbed 182 runs toger. Captain Eoin Morgan registered England's fastest T20 half-century which was in just 21 balls whereas Dawid Malan tched up England's fastest T20 hundred in 48 balls surpassing Alex Hales. 

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England go all guns blazing

New Zealand won toss and opted to field putting visitors to bat first. Blackcaps were quick to draw first blood as Daryl Mitchell caught Bairstow off Mitchell Santner's delivery. Banton's wicket in eighth over was a blessing in disguise for England and a curse for New Zealand as Captain Eoin Morgan walked in and unleashed wrath upon Blackcaps. Morgan's crackling blitzkrieg left New Zealand bowlers in splits as Dawid Malan also powered bowlers from or end. In a race to score, Malan reached half-century mark first, registering consecutive half-centuries in series and just two balls later, Morgan also raised his bat to mark his half-century. 17th over witnessed some serious bashing as Dawid Malan hit Ish Sodhi around park to collect 28 runs off his over. Malan went on to register his maiden century and fastest one for England in next over itself.  

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