England vs New Zealand – 2nd IT20 : Salt and Brook go berserk as England hit record score at Christchurch
England 236-4 (20 overs): Salt 85 (56), Brook 78 (35)
New Zealand 171 (18 overs): Seifert 39 (29); Rashid 4-32
England won by 65 runs - lead series 1-0
England returned to Christchurch looking to go 1–0 up in the series after rain had ruined the prospect of a result last time out. Phil Salt and Jos Buttler strode to the middle after being put into bat by the Kiwis. The former got England off to a flyer — something quickly becoming a trademark of his. The second ball of the match was thumped over the midwicket boundary by Salt, setting the tone for what was to come.
After taking 11 from Matt Henry’s opening over, Salt climbed into Jacob Duffy from the other end too. He laced a gorgeous drive through the covers to the fence — the first of back-to-back boundaries. Buttler looked set to join the fun with an elegant aerial extra-cover drive. However, the former captain fell the very next ball, looking to charge Duffy but miscuing to New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner at mid-off. England were 24–1 after two overs.
Salt, however, was unfazed by the loss of his partner and showed no signs of easing up. Now joined by Jacob Bethell, the pair found the boundary with astonishing regularity, taking a particular liking to Blackcaps spinner Michael Bracewell, who was introduced to bowl the last over of the powerplay. Salt opened the over with two consecutive fours before Bethell lofted two successive blows over the long-on boundary. The pair took 20 from the over, though Bracewell did get his revenge — picking up Bethell to leave England 68–2 at the end of the powerplay.
New Zealand may have thought that wicket would allow them to claw back some momentum and stem the scoring rate. If they did, they were wrong — very wrong.
The wicket brought the classy Yorkshireman Harry Brook to the crease, who went on to display his full repertoire of shots. He and Salt put on a T20 batting masterclass — a blend of brute force, clever placement, sharp running, and of course, a touch of modern innovation.
The ninth over of the match showed exactly why there’s so much excitement around Brook, who looks destined to be a mainstay in all formats of English cricket — particularly now as white-ball captain. First, he used his feet to launch Santner for a massive six over midwicket. Then came the rather comic but equally mesmeric “falling-over paddle sweep” for four. To complete the triplet, Brook rocked back to pull Santner over midwicket for a 95-metre six that left the ground. He was into his work quickly — 19 off six deliveries — and didn’t look back. In the same over, Salt brought up an excellent 50 from 33 balls.
The pair continued peppering the boundary with authority. There was no sympathy from England as the Kiwi crowd watched their bowlers get bullied to all parts. Two of the most destructive batters in world cricket were in one of those moods — scoring at a blistering rate. Brook was given a life on 39 when Jimmy Neesham dropped a straightforward catch at long-on — a mistake that proved costly for the home side.
Brook soon brought up his fifty from just 22 balls and pushed on, launching some enormous hits. After taking Jamieson’s over for 21 with more glorious strokes, England were 177–2 after 15 overs. Both batters eventually fell in quick succession, still looking to clear the ropes. Brook went first — caught at deep midwicket for a brilliant 78 from 35 balls. Jamieson then dismissed Salt two balls later, caught at long-on for a blistering 85 off 56 deliveries.
There was still time left for cameos from Sam Curran (fresh off a great knock on Saturday) and Tom Banton. They didn’t disappoint. Banton in particular found the boundary five times, including a monster pull shot for six over midwicket. The pair continued the punishment and ensured England posted a record score at Christchurch — finishing on 236–4 from their 20 overs. An ominous total — and surely a winning one.
Blackcaps falter under scoreboard pressure
Luke Wood and Brydon Carse took the new ball for England, looking to make early inroads and pile the misery on the Kiwis. New Zealand got off to a brisk start, taking 10 from the opening over — sparking faint hopes of a record chase. But those hopes were swiftly dented as Carse struck with his very first ball of the series, removing Robinson for 7 after a leading edge flew to Jordan Cox — 10 for 1.
Things went from bad to worse for the Blackcaps. Despite Rachin Ravindra finding the boundary with his first two deliveries, Carse had the final say — drawing the edge and offering Buttler a routine take behind the stumps to leave the hosts reeling at 18 for 2. With such a mammoth total to chase, there was no time for New Zealand to consolidate — they had no choice but to keep swinging.
Sam Curran’s opening over bore the brunt of that pressure, going for 12 — including a clean, straight six from Mark Chapman. As always, England’s white-ball wizard Adil Rashid was brought on for the first over after the powerplay, but even he wasn’t spared. Tim Seifert greeted him with a towering strike over midwicket that sailed out of the ground.
That continued aggression helped keep the required rate just about within reach. After seven overs, New Zealand were 70 for 2 and, while still unlikely, the chase looked faintly plausible.
Liam Dawson was then introduced and immediately brought control, sending down a miserly first over that went for just five. Curran returned to replace Rashid, who had gone for 10 in his opening over. Mixing up his pace and lengths, Curran looked set to deliver a tight over — but on the final ball of the ninth, he got it horribly wrong. A full toss sat up nicely, and Seifert gleefully launched it high and long. Buffet bowling — help yourself, sir.
Dawson continued to impress and soon delivered the breakthrough. He removed Chapman for 28, caught once again by Cox at long-on. New Zealand were now 87 for 3. Dawson’s second over went for just four runs, and with a few quiet overs tucked in during a massive chase, England had firmly wrestled control.
Rashid, operating in tandem with Dawson, then capitalised on the pressure. He picked up the key wicket of Seifert for 39 — yet again caught by the ever-present Cox. With the required rate climbing close to 15 runs per over and England’s spinners in total control, a New Zealand win was now looking a long, long way off.
Dawson continued to impress, claiming his second wicket as Bracewell was dismissed for 2, caught by Banton. New Zealand were left struggling at 94 for 5. Rashid also claimed his second wicket after deceiving Daryl Mitchell with flight, which saw him caught on the midwicket boundary by Salt for 9. Things were really unravelling for the Kiwis now — 104 for 6.
New Zealand skipper Santner, however, did produce a mini fightback to spoil Dawson’s figures. Two big sixes and five wides meant Dawson’s final over went for 23, turning what looked like excellent figures into 2 for 38 from his four. The over didn’t change the outcome, though, with over 100 runs still needed from the final six overs.
Santner and Neesham were left with the thankless task of facing the remaining deliveries despite the result looking set in stone. However, they did so admirably, finding multiple boundaries and accumulating 57 runs as a pair from just 23 balls. Santner, in particular, impressed with a well-played 36 off 15 balls, including three fours and three sixes.
The wise Rashid returned to close things out, claiming both of their wickets in his final over — Santner and Neesham both caught in the deep — to finish with standout figures of 4 for 32.
Luke Wood then wrapped up the innings in the 18th over with two wickets of his own — dismissing Matt Henry and Jacob Duffy — to bowl New Zealand out for 171. Their late efforts proved in vain as England’s huge score proved far too much. A comprehensive 65-run win for the visitors.
England now lead the series 1–0 heading into the final T20 at Eden Park, Auckland on Thursday. They’ll be full of confidence after this dominant display — powered by superb performances from Brook, Salt, and Rashid.
