[Watch] English Pacer Cleans Up Dangerous Finn Allen After Breathtaking 83

Finn Allen top-scored for New Zealand in third T20I (Twitter)

New Zealand opener Finn Allen roared back into form with a scintillating fifty against England in the third T20I of their four-match series. The cricketer slapped four fours and six sixes on his way to a 53-ball 83, in an innings that set up New Zealand’s 200-plus total in Birmingham.

Just as Allen looked clear favourite to notch up a rare T20I ton, a change of angle from England’s new-ball speedster Luke Wood curtailed his stay at the crease.

Buttler and Ali play hand in Allen’s downfall

Finn Allen smoked 83 runs from just 53 balls upfront to take New Zealand past the 150-run mark inside 16 overs.

In between overs, England captain Jos Buttler was seen having a chat with senior all-rounder Moeen Ali. As per commentators, the two relayed a message to Luke Wood advising him to try changing ends against a rampaging Allen.

The move worked wonders for the hosts as Wood cleaned up the Kiwi opener, thus robbing him off a rare T20I century in England.

Watch: Luke Wood cleans up Finn Allen

Apart from Finn Allen, New Zealand’s number four Glenn Phillips also charted 69 runs from just 34 deliveries and charged up his side’s total to an intimidating 202-5 from 20 overs.

Wood’s new-ball partner Gus Atkinson became the pick-of-the-bowlers from the English camp, as he finished with 2-31 from his four overs in a high-scoring innings.

England, already 2-0 ahead in the series with comprehensive wins in the first two games, slumped to 55-4 in their run-chase at one stage.

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