Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor led the way for the Black Caps yet again. Photo / AP
Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor led the way for the Black Caps yet again. Photo / AP
In an indication of the quantum steps one-day international cricket has taken lately, New Zealand had the equivalent of an open wicket practice chasing England's 302 with three wickets and six balls to spare at the Aegas Bowl. The visitors lead the series 2-1 after surpassing the highest previous chase at the ground by 29 runs.
One over remaining makes the contest look close but that perception could be deceptive. New Zealand needed 13 runs with 26 balls and five wickets to spare when Ross Taylor was dismissed for 110 from 123. There were touches of anxiety at the end but nothing to overwhelmingly disrupt momentum.
Kane Williamson and Taylor delivered their eighth century partnership across 36 stands in the 50-over format. Apart from setting up the result, their 206-run partnership was notable as:
- the highest by New Zealand for the third wicket against any country in ODIs, surpassing Adam Parore and Ken Rutherford's 180 against India at Vadodara in 1994.
- the second highest for the third wicket against England, three runs short of the unbeaten 209 set by Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir at Delhi in October 2011.
- the highest for any ODI wicket against England, passing the unbeaten 165-run opening stand between Brendon McCullum and Jesse Ryder at Hamilton in 2008.
- the third highest partnership in New Zealand ODI history after McCullum and James Marshall's 274 opening stand against Ireland at Aberdeen in 2008 and the unbeaten 267 world record for the sixth wicket by Grant Elliott and Luke Ronchi against Sri Lanka in Dunedin this year.
Kane Williamson plays a shot off the bowling of David Willey. Photo / AP
Williamson with 118 from 113 balls maintained his matter-of-fact method, disguising the fact his century came up in 88 balls. He has passed 50 runs in 24 of 72 ODI innings; a one in three ratio.
His seventh ODI century was highlighted by an on-drive from Adil Rashid where the footwork looked like he was playing a bespoke version of hopscotch. His first chance came on 109 when Mark Wood dropped a dolly lobbed to mid-off from David Willey.
Likewise, Taylor imposed himself with another clinical display, his 14th ODI century. He completed the feat of consecutive ODI centuries for a fourth time. To give that context, Martin Guptill has done it twice, Mark Greatbatch once... and that's it among New Zealanders.
He was dropped twice, on 67 by wicketkeeper Jos Buttler off Wood and on 72 by Ben Stokes at mid-wicket, off the same unfortunate right-arm pace bowler, but those blips couldn't detract from the professionalism.
England's revitalised batting was brilliant to witness as part of 302 all out. The innings represented the first occasion they have reached a 300-plus total in three consecutive ODIs and was only sullied by the loss of their last five wickets for 14 runs in 22 balls. That left 28 balls on the shelf in the final innings stocktake.
As one press box sage noted, in the Brave New ODI World a chase for 303 has now become one of those middling totals in which it can be difficult to ascertain the right approach. Once it would have sent shivers down the spines of incoming batsmen, now it has almost become a figure of relief.
Captain Eoin Morgan (71 runs off 82 balls), Ben Stokes (68 off 47) and Joe Root (54 off 63) provided the majority of the scoring. Specialist No.7 Sam Billings (34 off 16) added a significant cameo, including five consecutive fours as he endeavours to establish his place.
England's Ben Stokes leaves the pitch after he was bowled out by New Zealand's Ben Wheeler. Photo / AP
The England effort was helped by benevolent straight boundaries which left an estimated 12-15m between the rope and hoardings. As the evolution of ODIs are documented, that variable might require asterisks.
Ben Wheeler became the 185th New Zealand ODI cricketer and delivered three for 63 from his allotment. He took the opening wicket of Alex Hales (23 off 21) and added Stokes and Billings in his final spell. Stokes provided the shot of the innings, dispatching Mitchell McClenaghan over the legside in a hit that almost reached the hinterland. Instead it bounced into the Gourmet Burgers caravan, inspired one press box wag to exclaim it was a "whopper".
Tim Southee's form improved with three for 44 from 8.2 overs. He took what was arguably the most significant wicket when Jos Buttler was caught behind for 13 in the powerplay. The delivery would likely have been called wide if he hadn't lashed.
Matt Henry picked up late wickets to finish with two for 64 from 10 overs while McClenaghan struggled with none for 67 from eight.
Nathan McCullum was rested in favour of Henry but the team has lost the services of best performer Trent Boult for the remainder of the tour.
Boult suffered a back injury after the second ODI and has been sent home as a precaution. No replacement has been added to the squad. Scans are yet to confirm a diagnosis.
Boult had been New Zealand's best bowler in the series, taking six wickets at 18 and conceding 5.4 runs per over. No teammate has taken as many wickets or gone for less than a run a ball.
