New Zealand v England, 2012-13
Wisden's review of the third Twenty20 International, New Zealand vs England, 2012-13
David Clough
15-Apr-2014
At Wellington (Westpac Stadium), February 15, 2013 (floodlit). England won by ten wickets. Toss: England.
England made a mockery of their Hamilton defeat in the most one-sided of deciders, as Lumb and Hales hurried them to only their second ten-wicket win in Twenty20 cricket after besting West Indies at The Oval in September 2011. They overhauled New Zealand's below-par total with 44 balls to spare when Lumb helped Butler over backward square leg and out of the stadium. Only once before, when Hales and Ravi Bopara added 159 for the second wicket against West Indies at Trent Bridge in 2012, had an England pair shared a bigger Twenty20 partnership. Their bowlers, though, had done the hard work, and Broad was the key. He had taken the blame for choosing to bowl first in the previous match, but held his nerve to do so again. He and Finn then produced exemplary new-ball spells, and only Guptill hung around.
England made a mockery of their Hamilton defeat in the most one-sided of deciders, as Lumb and Hales hurried them to only their second ten-wicket win in Twenty20 cricket after besting West Indies at The Oval in September 2011. They overhauled New Zealand's below-par total with 44 balls to spare when Lumb helped Butler over backward square leg and out of the stadium. Only once before, when Hales and Ravi Bopara added 159 for the second wicket against West Indies at Trent Bridge in 2012, had an England pair shared a bigger Twenty20 partnership. Their bowlers, though, had done the hard work, and Broad was the key. He had taken the blame for choosing to bowl first in the previous match, but held his nerve to do so again. He and Finn then produced exemplary new-ball spells, and only Guptill hung around.