Sam Billings banned from wearing eco-friendly gloves in Kiwi clash

England's T20 vice-captain Sam Billings was banned by the ICC from wearing eco-friendly gloves in England's clash against New Zealand. ICC reportedly banned Sam Billings from wearing the colourful gloves as the colours 'did not comply' with ICC's rules and regulations. Sam Billings then walked out to bat wearing normal white gloves during England's first T20 game against New Zealand. The match referee disallowed Sam Billings from wearing the gloves as it was made of recycled materials considered illegal by the ICC. After wearing it for two warm games against New Zealand XI, Sam Billings was forced to take the gloves off and replace them with the regular white ones. 

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Sam Billings banned from wearing eco-friendly gloves

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New Zealand win second T20

New Zealand completed a clinical victory over England in the second T20 at Wellington, as they grabbed a  21-run win to bring the series to level. Chasing a target of 177, England's top-order failed to fire all cylinders with New Zealand bowlers striking at regular intervals. New Zealand skipper Tim Southee struck gold right in the first ball of his spell and got rid of England opener Jonny Bairstow. Following that, England lost wickets in a flurry with just opener Dawid Malan and Eoin Morgan doing their bit to get the scoreboard ticking. Chris Jordan's quickfire 36 runs off 19 balls studded with three fours and three sixes went in vain as he was dismissed by Santer. The two teams will lock horns for the third T20 on November 5 at Nelson. 

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Neesham and Guptill steer New Zealand to 176

After Guptill and de Grandhomme's lusty hitting, New Zealand reached the halfway stage at 96 for three, but tight bowling from Sam Curran and Chris Jordan put the brakes on scoring as the innings wore on. Jordan returned figures of three for 23 while Curran took two for 22. The cluster of newcomers in the England ranks had mixed fortunes with the ball and six dropped catches, three by James Vince also proved costly for the tourists.

Saqib Mahmood, on debut, saw his second delivery on the international stage smacked over the long-on boundary by Guptill and Colin Munro finished the over with a six over mid-wicket. Mahmood did claim the wicket of Tim Siefert for 16 but his maiden wicket came at an expensive 46 runs from his four overs. Munro faced only three more balls after his huge boundary before he was trapped in front by a Curran yorker. Pat Brown, who took one for 33 in his debut in Christchurch two days ago, proved much more expensive in his second outing, conceding 32 off two overs. Allrounder Lewis Gregory, who did not get to bat or bowl in his debut in Christchurch, bagged a wicket with his first ball in international cricket when he bowled Colin de Grandhomme for 28. 

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