ENG vs NZ 2023 | Allen, Phillips Raid ENG Before Jamieson, Sodhi Script Big NZ Win

Glenn Phillips raced to his 50 from 27 balls (Twitter)

New Zealand, fresh from their two heavy losses against hosts England, returned the favour with a dominant win in the third to reduce their series deficit by a game. Opener Finn Allen and T20 barbarian Glenn Phillips bludgeoned sparkling half-centuries upfront before bowlers Kyle Jamieson and Ish Sodhi completed the demolition job in Edgbaston.

Allen, Phillips take New Zealand to 202

Finn Allen, unfazed by his opening partner Devon Conway’s early runout, sparked a six-hitting outrage against England’s attack at the top. After Tim Seifert at number three was deceived by hosts’ part-timer Liam Livingstone, Glenn Phillips lent a supporting hand to Allen, as the two shared 88 runs for the third wicket.

The opener cracked 83 runs from 53 balls while Phillips unleashed his fury with a 34-ball 69. The two batters orchestrated New Zealand total past the 200-run mark with ease.

Among English bowlers, young sensation Gus Atkinson finished his four overs with 2-31 in a high-scoring innings. Luke Wood, on the other hand, gunned down Allen with his scorching pace in the death overs.

England crumbles to scoreboard pressure

England’s high-flying top-order crumbled in front of New Zealand bowlers, with Jonny Bairstow, Will Jacks, Dawid Malan and Harry Brook all making their way back to the pavilion within the first nine overs of the innings.

Ace spinner Ish Sodhi orchestrated England’s early setback in the run-chase by removing Bairstow and Brook from the crease. The 30-year-old also accounted for dangerman Chris Jordan, and was ably assisted by spin teammate Mitchell Santner with his economical three-over spell.

Captain Jos Buttler clubbed a 21-ball 40 and fellow senior member Moeen Ali scored 26 while none of the other Englishmen managed to outscore Bairstow’s mere 12 at the top. The hosts eventually had their response dusted out at 128 to concede a huge 74-run victory to Tim Southee and co.

Southee himself claimed two in the innings while Kyle Jamieson finished with 3-23 off four overs.

Finn Allen fittingly won the ‘Player of the Match’ award for his 83 as New Zealand made it 1-2 in the four-match series.

The two sides will now shift to Nottingham’s Trent Bridge for the series-decider, set to be played on September 5.

Brief Scores:

New Zealand: 202-5 (20)
Finn Allen 83 (53), Glenn Phillips 69 (34)
Gus Atkinson 2-31 (4), Luke Wood 1-36 (4)

England: 128 (18.3)
Jos Buttler 40 (21), Moeen Ali 26 (16)
Kyle Jamieson 3-23 (4), Ish Sodhi 3-33 (4)

New Zealand won by 74 runs, trail four-match series 1-2

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