The Black Caps experienced core have powered them into a series lead leaving a young England team chasing the game.
England started the series well but have faltered when put under pressure.
Photo Copyright – Steve Haag Sports
Fourth T20I | Friday 8 November 2019 | McLean Park, Napier | 07:00
To Win Match
New Zealand 67/100
Tie 35/1
England 5/4
New Zealand
Colin de Grandhomme had answers to all the questions posed by the England bowling attack’s variations in the third T20I and will be the dangerman for the Black Caps.
Openers Martin Guptill and Colin Munro have promised much but delivered little so far this series. Munro certainly has the fire in his belly though judging by his reaction to catching Sam Curran in the deep, the Kiwi threw the ball high in the air and made a ‘C’ gesture to mock the England allrounders wicket celebration.
New Zealand possesses a good balance of attacking batsmen and those with a more conventional approach with the likes of De Grandhomme and Jimmy Neesham woven between Ross Taylor and Mitchell Santner.
Santner has bowled brilliantly so far this series but his spin twin Ish Sodhi was somewhat wayward in Nelson, although he did get the wicket of Dawid Malan with a full toss.
New Zealand have the momentum in this series now and it will be difficult to wrestle it away.
England
England’s skipper Eoin Morgan may hold the key to a more complete performance from the tourists. Morgan has looked dangerous but hasn’t managed to stick around long enough to do any damage.
The captain has been charged with leading a young England team in this unusually long T20I series and a lack of middle-order experience has hurt them.
Saqib Mahmood and Pat Brown have endured a baptism of fire but both have shown a good deal of promise as international quicks.
England have made decent starts with the bat but have fallen away in the middle as they struggle to deal with a varied Black Caps bowling attack.
Verdict: New Zealand 67/100
New Zealand to clinch the series with one to play.
Written by James Richardson for Hollywoodbets.
