History repeats itself, England-New Zealand T20 sees super-over drama

It was history repeating itself yet again as the fifth and final T20 between New Zealand and England went into a super over to decide the winner. Memories of the controversial World Cup final that saw England lift the trophy after a super over and a tie in the super over are still fresh in the minds of the fans. On Sunday, once again, England and New Zealand reached a deadlock, only this time England found a comfortable way out of the super over and snatched a 9-run win to seal the series 3-2. The rain-hit game at Auckland was reduced to 11 overs a side. 

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England snatch another win in Super Over

Jonny Bairstow's quickfire 47 off 18, laced with five sixes and two boundaries, got England off to a flying start before the hosts put the break on the visitors' momentum. Requiring 16 runs off 6 balls, Chris Jordan smashed 12 runs off three balls to help England reach 146 runs and tie the game. For the second time in four months, fans witnessed yet another super over, this time in the shortest format of the game, to decide the winner of the contest. With England being sent to bat first in the super over, Eoin Morgan and Jonny Bairstow hit a six each as they helped the visitors post 18 runs in six balls. New Zealand's Tom Seifert and Martin Guptill failed to hit any big shots off a disciplined super over from Chris Jordan, thereby handing England a comfortable 9-run win over New Zealand. 

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Guptill and Munro's blitz goes in vain

A flying start by Martin Guptill and Colin Munro saw New Zealand post 146 from 11 overs in the rain-shortened Twenty20 international decider against England in Auckland on Sunday. Big-hitting Guptill was at his best as he peppered the boundary to put New Zealand in a strong position after sporadic showers delayed the start by two hours and reduced the match to a maximum 11 overs per side. Cashing in on the short boundaries at Eden Park, Guptill hit five sixes and three fours and needed only 19 deliveries to reach his 50 before being removed by Adil Rashid one ball later.

Munro had four sixes and two fours in his 46 off 21 balls. England won the toss and elected to field, but their bowlers were unable to make full use of the heavily overcast conditions with Guptill and Munro only needing 16 deliveries to bring up 50. When Guptill survived a close stumping appeal from Adil Rashid at the start of the fourth over he responded by hitting the next two balls over the boundary. New Zealand promoted big-hitting Colin de Grandhomme but he only last five deliveries before he fell to Saqib Mahmood for six to give England wickets in consecutive overs. Tim Seifert then smacked five sixes in his 30 off 16 When Guptill and Munro were together they had the run rate up to 18.5 before it settled at 13.27 by the end of the innings. 

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