England secured a five wicket victory over hosts New Zealand to take the series 2-1.
For the second time in four days Alastair Cook and England outplayed New Zealand to triumph in a one-day international.
From the moment the England captain won the toss the Kiwis were on the back foot. Steven Finn helped his side bowl the hosts out for just 185 off 43.5 overs.
At one point the home side were 11-3, with their captain Brendon McCullum once again the only man to show any fight with the bat – eventually scoring 80 before being dismissed by Graeme Swann.
All the England bowlers chipped in with wickets, but Finn ended with the most successful figures of 3-27.
In reply to NZ’s 185, Cook batted to 46 before being caught behind off the bowling of Tim Southee. Eoin Morgan and Jonathan Trott chipped in with 39 and 38 respectively, with England’s only slight wobble coming when both Cook and Trott were dismissed for only three runs.
As it was England needent have worried as they reached their target of 186 with more than 12 overs to spare. Once again it was England’s newest star Joe Root who hit the winning runs, as Cook’s side added the ODI series victory to the Twenty20 win they had already achieved over the Black Caps.
The win was the first time England had won an ODI series in New Zealand since 1994. The comprehensive manner in which they triumphed will give the English confidence going into the first Test match on 6 March.
New Zealand however will have much to think about after another woeful display.
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