NZC Logo
Ross Taylor passed 7,000 ODI runs and notched his 18th ODI century before Mitchell Santner hit the BLACKCAPS home at Seddon Park. PHOTOSPORT

BLACKCAPS v England, 1st GJ Gardner Homes ODI, Seddon Park

Posted Sunday, February 25, 2018 in International News

In Short
What an ODI series this is going to be!

Ross Taylor (113) and Tom Latham (79) set the BLACKCAPS on course to chase down 285, before Mitchell Santner blasted them home in a final over thriller in game one at Seddon Park in Hamilton.

Mitchell Santner struck three late sixes to get the BLACKCAPS home by three wickets with four balls to spare. PHOTOSPORT

  The Boss
When his team needed him the most, Ross Taylor stepped up with his 18th ODI century. The innings also saw him become the third Kiwi to notch 7,000 ODI runs and in the fewest innings (188). He was all class and seems to relish batting with Tom Latham, who along with Joe Root (71), looked most at ease on a testing pitch.

Taylor and Latham came together with the hosts struggling at 27-3 in the 10th over. PHOTOSPORT

Macro alias: OptaWidget

Key Phase 
A breezy 71 from Joe Root and a 41-ball 50 from Jos Butler had England ready to surge up to and past 300. However, some gutsy death bowling by Southee (10-0-47) and Boult (2-64), plus a fine comeback spell from Ish Sodhi (2-63) saw the BLACKCAPS only give up 67 runs in the final 10 overs. A marvelous effort when contending with one of the most lethal finishers in Butler, backed up by Ali, Willey and Woakes.

England captain Eoin Morgan said Joe Root was so impressive that it was like he was batting on a different pitch at Seddon Park. PHOTOSPORT

As it happened...