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New Zealand vs England, 3rd ODI at Auckland, , Feb 23 2013 - Match Result

RESULT
3rd ODI (D/N), Auckland, February 23, 2013, England tour of New Zealand
(37.3/50 ov, T:186) 186/5

England won by 5 wickets (with 75 balls remaining)

Match centre 
Scores: Ajit Mohan | Comms: Alan Gardner
Scorecard summary
New Zealand 185/10(43.5 overs)
28 (52)
2/38 (9)
England 186/5(37.3 overs)
3/48 (10)
39 (24)
2/35 (8)

That, then, is a wrap for the coloured-clothing shenanigans on this tour. Alex Winter's report will be up on the site shortly and we'll all be back in a couple of weeks to bring you the Tests (aka. proper cricket). Thanks for your comments... Cheerio.

9.15pm: Out we go for the presentations. Slightly weirdly, there are no interviews with the captains but they each stand in front of a mic and give a monologue, full of Oscars-style thank yous to sponsors and the like. Anyway... New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum praises his team-mates and the fans and also has a few words for the England players: "Congratulations on a fantastic series, you guys showed us how to win the clutch moments."

Alastair Cook, England's captain, then gets collared by Sky for a proper feather-dustering: "Very pleased. These last two must-win games, we showed a lot of character and we can take a lot from them. The way we started the game was crucial, they were 20 for 3, that set the tone. When Brendon got going that was a bit frustrating but we bowled well. We handled the chase, probably lost a couple too many wickets but we got there. [Joe Root] can take a lot from his innings and it certainly gives us a headache going into the summer. Jimmy and Steve have been world-class. Finny's pace is up, he's been hitting the gloves hard and I think his shortened run-up is here to stay."

9pm: Well, that was a little bit more difficult than might have been expected. Four of England's top five got in and then out but that man (boy?) Joe Root was there at the end to notch the winning runs and push his fledgling ODI average up to 81.50. Having gone behind in Hamilton, this is a decent victory for Alastair Cook's side, and England's first in bilateral ODI series against New Zealand in almost 20 years. Brendon McCullum was at his pugnacious best but the rest of his side were all too domitable - though they were up against a pair of high-class operators in Steven Finn and James Anderson. Like a soft, furry fruit, the kiwis were easily squished today.

37.3
1
Mills to Root, 1 run

short and wide of the off stump, Root pulls through midwicket, keeping it down and they jog through for the required single, meaning England win by five wickets and take the series 2-1

37.2
Mills to Root, no run

pitched up, slightly wide of off, goes across and clips firmly to midwicket, where the fielder makes a sprawling stop

37.1
Mills to Root, no run

length ball, outside the line of off, steered towards point

Joe Root needs to hit a four to maintain his record of having reached thirty in each of his ODI innings so far...

end of over 377 runs
ENG: 185/5CRR: 5.00 RRR: 0.07
Chris Woakes3 (8b)
Joe Root27 (53b 2x4)
James Franklin 4-0-20-0
Kyle Mills 7-0-33-0
36.6
2
Franklin to Woakes, 2 runs

gets across in front of the stumps and nudges through midwicket, they get back for two and the scores are tied

36.5
1
Franklin to Root, 1 run

slightly short of a length and played on the up towards mid-off, Root calls for the run immediately and Brendon McCullum has to collect and spin to throw with his right hand but it's not all that far away as Root slides in on his shirt front

36.4
Franklin to Root, no run

pushed across on a length, steered towards point on the back foot

36.3
Franklin to Root, no run

goes back and across to clip a length ball from outside off towards mid-on

36.2
Franklin to Root, no run

on the stumps, defended from the crease

36.1
4
Franklin to Root, FOUR runs

full and slightly wide, plays it from under his nose and fizzes a cover drive away to the rope

Franklin replaces Ellis...

end of over 361 run
ENG: 178/5CRR: 4.94 RRR: 0.57
Chris Woakes1 (7b)
Joe Root22 (48b 1x4)
Kyle Mills 7-0-33-0
Andrew Ellis 8-0-35-2

"There's been a lot of criticism of NZ cricket over the last week or so but it's worth remembering there are just six semi-professional teams to select from. We've often punched above our weight in the past, but realistically there are going to be frequent bad patches. Hang in there and enjoy the occassional win." Grandad has given up on this one...

England need 8 (eight) from 84

35.6
Mills to Woakes, no run

slightly wider on the crease and angled back in, Woakes covers up in front of the stumps

35.5
Mills to Woakes, no run

gets on the front foot to block a good length ball in the corridor outside off

35.4
Mills to Woakes, no run

length ball, defended into the off side

35.3
1
Mills to Root, 1 run

short, takes the pace off as well, Root pulls the man at deep backward square leg for one more

35.2
Mills to Root, no run

back of a length outside off, chops into the covers but again can't beat the infield

35.1
Mills to Root, no run

clattered into the covers of the back foot

The batting Powerplay arrives - if it brings five wickets with it, I'll eat my tricorn. Mills back into the attack

end of over 355 runs
ENG: 177/5CRR: 5.05 RRR: 0.60
Joe Root22 (45b 1x4)
Chris Woakes1 (4b)
Andrew Ellis 8-0-35-2
Tim Southee 10-1-49-3
34.6
1
Ellis to Root, 1 run

another bumper and Root roundhouses a hook shot through square leg for another single

34.5
1
Ellis to Woakes, 1 run

length ball outside off, prods into a gap square of the wicket, 10 required now

34.4
Ellis to Woakes, no run

stays back and steers into the off side

34.3
1
Ellis to Root, 1 run

short of a length, pulled through square leg off the back foot

34.2
Ellis to Root, no run

pitched up and coming back towards the stumps, deflected into leg side pushing forwards

Match details
Eden Park, Auckland
TossEngland, elected to field first
Series
Season2012/13
Series resultEngland won the 3-match series 2-1
Match numberODI no. 3338
Hours of play (local time)14.00 start, First Session 14.00-17.30, Interval 17.30-18.15, Second Session 18.15-21.45
Match days23 February 2013 - daynight (50-over match)
Umpires
TV Umpire
Reserve Umpire
Match Referee