RESULT
1st T20I, Christchurch, November 01, 2019, England tour of New Zealand
(18.3/20 ov, T:154) 154/3

England won by 7 wickets (with 9 balls remaining)

Player Of The Match
59 (38)
james-vince
Cricinfo's MVP
102.7 ptsImpact List
mitchell-santner
New
ENG
Full commentary

5.30pm That's all from us for today. George Dobell's report is ready and waiting for you to sink your teeth into here, and Miller and I will be back on Sunday when England are in Wellington to play in the very different surroundings of the Cake Tin. Until then, thanks for joining us!

Some post-match reaction from James Vince: "Nice from a personal point of view to make a contribution, but more important to get the tour off to a winning start. It was a decent wicket, maybe lacked a little bit of pace as the ball got older. Pleased with the start."

Tim Southee: "England played well on a wicket that didn't play as well as we thought. We didn't play well enough in all three areas. Morgan and Vince took the game away from us. We need to find a way to put pressure on the new batters coming out. We were a little bit off with the ball and in the field."

Eoin Morgan: "Very happy. The game was won and lost in the first innings. Standout performances from the debutants. Sam Curran and Pat Brown really did step up to the mark and perform on a two-paced wicket. Our batters had a reasonable day out, James Vince played outstanding well, but all credit to the bowlers today. There's a lot of work between now and the end of the series. [Depth] has been something that we've focused on for some time. We need opportunities to take advantage. All our planning is geared towards that [the World Cup]. We have a couple of places up for grabs in our 15-man squad, and opportunities in this series will allow them to put their hands up. That's the worst I've hit them, I felt absolutely terrible, so pleased to get the win."

Chris Jordan: "Very happy. The way the two Curran brothers set the tone up the top was exceptional. We communicated really well what was working on that pitch. We tried to keep it nice and straight, and to mix it up as much as possible. They were always going to come hard, especially after the start they got off to. We pride ourselves on being adaptable. I've worked on a few balls over a period of time, and whichever one I need to use from the arsenal on the days, that's what I'll go for. There's a lot of cricket to play before [the T20 World Cup]."

5.15pm A quick mention for Lewis Gregory, who was first named in an international squad way back in 2015, had to wait more than four years for his debut, and when it eventually came neither batted nor bowled. TFC, Lewis!

A high-five and a hug between Morgan and Billings, and that'll be 1-0 to England. A surprisingly low-intensity affair, all things considered: New Zealand always looked like they were playing catch-up after a slow start, and in the end they were around 10-15 runs short of par. England weren't completely clinical with the bat, but Jonny Bairstow got them off to a good start before James Vince controlled things in the middle and Captain Morgan saw his side home.

18.3
6
Southee to Morgan, SIX runs

shortish outside off, gives himself room and swings it high and mighty over midwicket for six, and that's the game!

18.2
4
Southee to Morgan, FOUR runs

attempted yorker, low full toss on fourth stump and Morgan just pushes it past the despairing dive of Santner at mid-off who can only parry it away for four

18.1
Southee to Morgan, no run

beaten! Slower ball outside the off stump, looks to cut it away but is cramped for room and can't connect

This has turned into something of an anti-climax, as England waltz towards a comfortable victory. Vince set things up with an excellent innings, and New Zealand's supporting cast haven't really turned up.

end of over 1811 runs
ENG: 144/3CRR: 8.00 RRR: 5.00
Eoin Morgan24 (18b 3x4)
Sam Billings14 (11b 2x4)
Lockie Ferguson 4-0-28-0
Ish Sodhi 4-0-38-0
17.6
1
Ferguson to Morgan, 1 run

straight, length ball, Morgan gives himself room and hits the cover sweeper

17.5
1
Ferguson to Billings, 1 run

attempted yorker turns into a low full toss, bunted to mid-on off the toe

17.4
4
Ferguson to Billings, FOUR runs

length ball outside off, looks to hack it through midwicket but can only inside edge it, and it squeezes away just past leg stump for four!

17.3
Ferguson to Billings, no run

just full of a length, angling in towards off stump, Ferguson fields off his own bowling as Billings looks to drive through mid-off

17.2
1
Ferguson to Morgan, 1 run

slower ball outside leg stump, Morgan doesn't pick it up but it drops at his feet off the body and they scramble through for a single

17.1
4
Ferguson to Morgan, FOUR runs

half-volley on leg stump, Morgan doesn't get all of it by any means but chips it over mid-off in the circle and it races away to the fence! Great batting, manipulating the field intelligently

Expensive spell from Sodhi, who is destructive at his best but didn't come close to that today. Here's Ferguson - the last throw of the dice from Southee?

end of over 1710 runs
ENG: 133/3CRR: 7.82 RRR: 7.00
Eoin Morgan18 (15b 2x4)
Sam Billings9 (8b 1x4)
Ish Sodhi 4-0-38-0
Mitchell Santner 4-0-23-3
16.6
1
Sodhi to Morgan, 1 run

gets deep in the crease and drives crisply out to cover

16.5
1
Sodhi to Billings, 1 run

legbreak on off stump, a fraction short and they steal one

16.4
2
Sodhi to Billings, 2 runs

picks up the length very early, and pulls hard through midwicket for a couple. Well cut off by Santner at cow

16.3
4
Sodhi to Billings, FOUR runs

sublime shot from Billings, a touch straight but he gets down so early and reverses this through point for four

16.2
1
Sodhi to Morgan, 1 run

legbreak on leg stump, whipped out to deep square for a single

16.1
1
Sodhi to Billings, 1 run

legbreak on middle, rocks back and slams it out to the sweeper at cover

Sodhi returns, needing a wicket or two to give New Zealand a chance

end of over 162 runs • 1 wicket
ENG: 123/3CRR: 7.68 RRR: 7.75
Sam Billings1 (4b)
Eoin Morgan16 (13b 2x4)
Mitchell Santner 4-0-23-3
Tim Southee 3-0-20-0

A very useful spell from Santner, but he's not really been backed up by the rest of the attack

15.6
1
Santner to Billings, 1 run

half-volley, driven out to the sweeper at cover on the half-volley

15.5
Santner to Billings, no run

length ball on leg stump, patted back to Santner

15.4
Santner to Billings, no run

ooft, Billings look to work this to leg with a little shimmy down the wicket, gets a leading edge on it but it falls safely in the covers

15.3
Santner to Billings, no run

tossed up on a length, goes on with the arm and Billings plays a high-elbow forward defensive shot back to the bowler

Patrick, with his tail between his legs: "Had to open my mouth..."

Here's Sam Billings at No. 5, no doubt hoping to finish things off

15.2
W
Santner to Vince, OUT

spears in a length ball, a real half-tracker, and he whacks it straight down Guptill's throat! Vince is rightly furious with himself, but that's an excellent knock despite a tame ending

James Vince c Guptill b Santner 59 (38b 7x4 2x6) SR: 155.26
Win Probability
ENG 100%
NZENG
100%50%100%NZ InningsENG Innings

Over 19 • ENG 154/3

England won by 7 wickets (with 9 balls remaining)
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