Tag: New Zealand

New Zealand batting great Kane Williamson announced his retirement from Twenty20 internationals on Sunday, saying the team needed “clarity” ahead of next year’s World Cup.

Williamson will depart the shortest format as his country’s second-highest run-scorer, tallying 2,575 runs from 93 matches, including 18 half-centuries, at an average of 33.4.

He captained New Zealand to the final of the 2021 T20 World Cup – where he scored 85 in a losing cause against Australia – and to semi-final appearances in 2016 and 2022.

Williamson relinquished the captaincy in both white ball formats when signing a “casual” contract with NZ Cricket, allowing him to pick and choose his availability.

Last week, the 35-year-old confirmed that he would be cutting back on his international commitments to focus more time on his young family and playing in professional white-ball leagues.

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“It’s the right time for myself and the team. It gives the team clarity for the series moving forward and ahead of their next major focus, which is the T20 World Cup,” Williamson said in a statement.

“There’s so much T20 talent there, and the next period will be important to get cricket into these guys and get them ready for the World Cup.”

Williamson will miss the home T20 series against the West Indies starting on Wednesday and has also made himself unavailable for the subsequent ODI series.

However, he will be available for three Tests against the tourists in December, where he will look to add to his New Zealand record 9276 runs in the longest format.

New Zealand Cricket chief executive Scott Weenink said Williamson had earned the right to determine how he plays out the rest of his international career.

“We’ve made it clear to Kane he has our full support as he reaches the back end of his illustrious career,” Weenink said.

“We would, of course, love to see him play for as long as possible, but there’s no doubt whenever he does decide to finally call time, he will go down as a legend of New Zealand cricket.”

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WELLINGTON: Blair Tickner and Zakary Foulkes made decisive contributions with bat and ball to secure a tense two-wicket win for New Zealand over England on Saturday and a clean sweep of the three-match ODI series.

The two tailenders put on an unbroken stand of 30 for the ninth wicket to lift the home side to 226-8 in the 45th over after England had once again struggled with the bat to be dismissed for 222.

Seamers Tickner and Foulkes took six wickets between them after England collapsed to 44-5, the visitors’ top-order failing once again.

The dismal form of Test batsmen Ben Duckett and Joe Root will be of concern less than three weeks from the start of the Ashes Test series in Australia.

England’s top four made a total of 84 runs across the three matches, the fewest by any team in a comparable men’s ODI series or tournament.

England were dismissed for 223 in the opening match and 175 in the second.

Captain Harry Brook said his players never adjusted to the movement extracted by New Zealand’s pace bowlers in seam-friendly conditions.

“We didn’t quite get big enough scores to be able to defend them and give the bowlers the best chance to win us the game,” Brook said.

“New Zealand are the second-best team in the world for a reason. They’ve outplayed us in this series. We just haven’t been good enough.”

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Tickner (4-64) claimed four wickets for the second successive game, while Foulkes (2-27) removed Jamie Smith and Root inside the first four overs.

Foulkes’ new-ball partner Jacob Duffy (3-56) then accounted for Duckett, Brook and Jacob Bethell.

Jamie Overton’s maiden ODI half-century was the foundation of an England recovery, with the all-rounder the last man out for 68 in the 41st over.

Brydon Carse also achieved a career-best score in the format, blasting four sixes on his way to 36.

New Zealand opener Rachin Ravindra scored a bright 46 and Daryl Mitchell continued his fine form with 44, but a steady loss of wickets set up an exciting finish.

Overton and Sam Curran took two wickets each, while the home side lost two batsmen to the same unfortunate means of dismissal.

Devon Conway and Tom Latham were both run out, caught short of their crease at the bowler’s end following the deflection of straight drives from another batsman.

Foulkes was unbeaten on 14 and Tickner not out 18, with their late heroics extending New Zealand’s exceptional run of ODI results on home soil.

New Zealand have won 25 of 29 ODI matches on home turf since February 2019, with two losses and two no-results.

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HAMILTON: New Zealand produced a dominant all-round performance to seal the three-match ODI series against England with a commanding win in the second game at Seddon Park on Wednesday.

Led by Blair Tickner’s fiery spell and composed half-centuries from Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell, the Black Caps chased down a modest target of 176 with five wickets and nearly 17 overs to spare, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.

Tickner’s 4-34 set the tone as England were bundled out for just 175 in 36 overs after being put in to bat.

None of the English batters managed to occupy the crease for long, as regular wickets derailed their innings from start to finish.

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Only Jamie Overton (42 off 27) and captain Harry Brook (34 off 34) offered brief resistance, but both fell to soft dismissals that summed up England’s reckless approach.

In reply, New Zealand’s chase began shakily when Jofra Archer removed Will Young for a duck in the very first over.

However, Rachin Ravindra steadied the innings with a fluent 54 off 58 balls, striking eight boundaries and a six. He shared a 63-run stand with Daryl Mitchell, who once again proved to be New Zealand’s rock in the middle order.

Mitchell remained unbeaten on 56 from 59 deliveries, decorated with six fours and two sixes, while captain Mitchell Santner’s blistering cameo of 34 off 17 balls ensured a quick finish as the hosts reached 177-5 in just 33.1 overs.

Archer was the standout bowler for England, finishing with 3-23 in his 10 overs, while Jamie Overton and Adil Rashid claimed one wicket each.

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VISAKHAPATNAM: New Zealand captain Sophie Devine has called time on her One Day International (ODI) career following her last group-stage fixture against England in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025.

Devine played her last match against the Three Lions here on Sunday, bringing the curtain down on a remarkable career spanning two decades.

The 36-year-old finished with the second-longest ODI career for Black Caps, both men and women. She made her debut in 2017 at 17.

Devine played 159th and final ODI against England at the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam, scoring 23 off 35 balls and picking up a wicket.

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Following the match, Devine was given a guard of honour by both teams

“Not to make it about myself, but we wanted to go out on a high, but that didn’t happen today. Credit to England. I actually didn’t cry as much as I thought I would,” she said.

“Good thing about announcing retirement so early meant that I had time to deal with those emotions. It wasn’t about the result today but just finish it off with my mates. I’m just so humbled that I have been able to do this for 19 years,” Devine said after the match,” she continued.

Overall, she scored 4279 runs at an average of 32.66 with the help of nine centuries and 18 fifties.

Besides batting, she also delivered with the ball, scalping 111 wickets, with her best figures of 3/24 against West Indies in 2018.

However, her side had a poor run in the World Cup, finishing at sixth position ahead of Pakistan and Bangladesh.

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VISAKHAPATNAM: Linsey Smith’s three-wicket haul, backed by a strong batting display, led England to a comfortable eight-wicket win over New Zealand here on Sunday in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025.

Set a mere 169-run target, England hit the winning runs on the loss of two wickets with ease in 29.2 overs.

Amy Jones remained unbeaten with 86 from 92 balls, a knock peppered with 11 fours and a six, whereas Tammy Beaumont struck seven fours in her 38-ball 40.

For New Zealand, there was nothing much in the bowling charts like batting as Lea Tahuhu and Sophie Devine managed to scalp one wicket each.

Earlier, New Zealand could not capitalize on the decision to bat first as their innings folded on 168 all out in 38.2 overs.

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The Three Lions removed opener Suzie Bates in the fifth over, who departed after scoring just 10 from 16 balls.

Following the early wicket, Amelia Kerr and Georgia Plimmer added 68 runs for the second before the former’s wicket sparked a collapse that the White Ferns could not recover from.

The pair was removed on successive deliveries, reducing New Zealand to 89-3 in 19.1 overs. Kerr made 35 from 43 balls with the aid of five fours, and Plimmer scored 43 from 57 deliveries laced with seven fours.

Besides the pair, there were no significant contributions from the middle-order batters.

For England, Linsey Smith remained the star bowler with three wickets to her name. Alice Capsey and Nat Sciver-Brunt supported her well with two scalps apiece.

Playing XIs

MOUNT MAUNGANUI: England ODI skipper Harry Brook sent an early warning for Australia ahead of the 2025 Ashes with an imperious 135 against New Zealand at Bay Oval here on Sunday.

With the Ashes starting in a month’s time, England’s Test vice-captain Brook appears in fine form— a positive sign for the Three Lions’ batting lineup.

Brook smashed 135 from just 101 balls, albeit England ended on the losing side. However, the right-hander earned the player of the match award for his rescuing act.

Harry Brook came in to bat when the Three Lions were in deep waters with 5-3 in just 1.6 overs. However, he struck 11 sixes and nine fours, powering his side to a respectable 223 run total.

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The 26-year-old shattered multiple records during his knock, including the most sixes as a captain batting at number five or below in ODIs. His 135 was also the fifth-highest by an England captain at this position or below.

He also scored the highest percentage of runs made by an England batter in a completed men’s ODI innings.

According to Wisden, Brook’s knock accounted for 60.53 percent of England’s runs, making it the highest of England’s all-time.

Moreover, only two other batters in ODI history have smashed tons when the team score was three down for less than 10 runs. The other players are Pakistan’s Sarfaraz Ahmed – 105 from 3 for 2 against England in 2016 at Lord’s- and India’s Yuvraj Singh – 103 from 3 for 5 against South Africa in 2005 at Hyderabad.

Despite his record-breaking knock, England lost the match by four wickets, courtesy of Daryl Mitchell’s unbeaten 78 from 91 balls.

Blackcaps chased down the target in 36.4 overs with Mithcell hitting seven fours and two maximums.

Playing XIs

England: 1 Jamie Smith, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Joe Root, 4 Jacob Bethell, 5 Harry Brook (capt), 6 Jos Buttler (wk), 7 Sam Curran, 8 Jamie Overton, 9 Brydon Carse, 10 Adil Rashid, 11 Luke Wood.

New Zealand: 1 Will Young, 2 Rachin Ravindra, 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Daryl Mitchell, 5 Tom Latham (wk), 6 Michael Bracewell, 7 Mitchell Santner (capt), 8 Zak Foulkes, 9 Nathan Smith, 10 Jacob Duffy, 11 Matt Henry.

READ: Brook’s sublime 135 in vain as New Zealand beat England

Captain Harry Brook’s brilliant century wasn’t enough to rescue England as hosts New Zealand eased to a four-wicket win in the first one-day international on Sunday.

Brook struck 11 sixes on his way to 135 in England’s modest score of 223, before New Zealand reached 224-6 in response with more than 13 overs remaining.

Daryl Mitchell hit the winning runs to be unbeaten on 78 at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui and put the Black Caps ahead 1-0 in the three-match series.

Victory was set up by a lethal early spell from New Zealand seamer Zakary Foulkes (4-41), who scythed through the top order, reducing England to 10-4 and then 56-6.

Brook led the recovery with a scintillating career-best ODI score.

He raised his ton with three successive sixes off Jacob Duffy before he was last man out in a rearguard 101-ball knock.

The 26-year-old surpassed his previous best score of 110 not out, against Australia in Chester-le-Street last year.

All-rounder Jamie Overton was the only other England batter to reach double figures, posting a career-best 46 in a seventh-wicket stand of 87 with Brook.

Earlier, veteran seamer Matt Henry (2-53) clean-bowled Jamie Smith from the first ball of the innings after England were sent in.

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Foulkes followed up with the prized wickets of Ben Duckett and Joe Root in his first over as England lost six wickets in seam-friendly conditions inside the first hour.

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner praised his new-ball pair, particularly Foulkes, who was playing only his second ODI.

New Zealand’s innings also began poorly, with seamer Brydon Carse (3-45) removing Will Young and Kane Williamson in his first over to leave them teetering at 24-3.

It was a first golden duck in 166 ODIs for New Zealand batting great Williamson, who was playing his first international match in nearly eight months.

Mitchell combined with Tom Latham (24) and Michael Bracewell (51) in solid middle-order stands.

Mitchell’s 91-ball knock should have ended on 33 when he lobbed a simple chance, but was dropped.

The remaining matches are in Hamilton on Wednesday and Wellington on Saturday.

England won the three-match T20 series 1-0 after two games were washed out by wet New Zealand weather.

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Batting great Kane Williamson says a changed “life situation” will reduce his availability for New Zealand as he prepares for his first international match since March.

Former captain Williamson will take part in the three-match ODI series against England starting in Mount Maunganui on Sunday, having been unavailable for New Zealand in any format since they lost the final of the Champions Trophy against India in March.

In that period, the 35-year-old, arguably his country’s finest batsman, missed a Test series in Zimbabwe and the home T20I series this month against Australia and England.

Speaking ahead of the England series, Williamson said his international availability is limited by a desire to spend more time with his young family, as well as play in lucrative professional leagues.

“As your life situation changes, as mine has, the balance between where you spend your time and give your attention is really, really important,” Williamson told New Zealand Cricket.

“So still being able to play for New Zealand and play the sport that I love at the highest level is great. But the balance is the most important thing for me.”

Since his debut in 2010, Williamson has scored 9,276 Test runs at an average of 54.88 to be comfortably New Zealand’s most prolific batter.

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He has gradually reduced his commitments over the last two years, relinquishing the captaincy in all formats. His “casual” contract with the national body requires him to commit to only certain series and tournaments.

Kane Williamson has spent much of this year in England, where he was captain of London Spirit in the men’s Hundred competition, as well as playing for Middlesex.

He is yet to play under new national coach Rob Walter, but has spoken with him extensively about availability.

“It’s just an ongoing communication with New Zealand Cricket and with Rob, and I’m grateful for that,” Williamson said.

“It’s a lot about the balance, with family and time away, but also the delicate balance of being a part of this team that I’ve really loved and enjoyed for such a long period of time.”

Williamson is one of five Black Caps on casual playing agreements with New Zealand Cricket, including Lockie Ferguson, Devon Conway, Finn Allen and Tim Seifert.

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NAVI MUMBAI: Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal’s sparkling centuries powered India to a comfortable win over New Zealand, sealing a semi-final spot for the hosts in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025.

After India’s win here at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy on Thursday, New Zealand and Sri Lanka were eliminated from the mega-event.

Set 325 in 44 overs as per DLS method in a rain-affected encounter, the White Ferns could only manage 271-8.

After losing Suzie Bates in the second over, Brooke Halliday and Georgia Plimmer
added a 50-run stand for the second wicket.

Plimmer made 30 from 25 balls, striking five fours, while Amelia Kerr scored 45 from 53 deliveries with the aid of four boundaries.

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However, India made a roaring comeback, removing set Plimmer and Sophie Devine in quick succession. As a result, New Zealand slumped to 59-3 in 11.3 overs.

Despite brief partnerships in the middle-order, New Zealand were unable to chase the target due to the mounting required run rate.

Brooke Halliday fought hard with her valiant 81 from 84 balls; however, it was not enough to take her side home.

For India, Renuka Singh and Kranti Gaud scalped two wickets each.

Earlier, after being put into bat, India piled up 340-3 in 49 overs, courtesy of Pratika Rawal’s and Smriti Mandhana’s imperious opening stand.

The duo added 212 for the opening wicket, which threw New Zealand out of the game. Mandhana 109 from 95 balls was laced with 10 fours and four sixes, while Rawal 122 from 134 deliveries included 13 fours and two sixes.

Jemimah Rodrigues was the other notable contributor, making 76 off just 55, which helped India finish strong at the back end of the innings.

For India, Amelia Kerr, Suzie Bates, and Rosemary Mair picked up one wicket each.

Playing XIs

India XI: Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Renuka Singh, Kranti Gaud, Shree Charani

New Zealand XI: Suzie Bates, Georgia Plimmer, Amelia Kerr, Sophie Devine (capt), Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Isabella Gaze (wk), Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Eden Carson, Lea Tahuhu

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CHRISTCHURCH: England skipper Harry Brook smashed 78 to steer his side to a thumping 65-run victory over New Zealand in the second T20I on Monday.

The visitors raced to a mammoth 236-4 from their 20 overs after Black Caps captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and elected to field at Hagley Oval.

Brook and opener Phil Salt (85) blasted New Zealand to all parts while the hosts didn’t help themselves with misfields, errant throwing, and dropped catches.

Wicketkeeper Tim Seifert dropped Jacob Bethell after a top edge swirled high in the strong northwest wind, and later James Neesham put down Brook.

The Brook drop was crucial, with the 26-year-old blasting 78 from just 35 deliveries as part of a 129-run partnership with Salt.

Brook showed his intent just two balls after he was dropped, smacking a powerful pull shot more than 100 metres over midwicket, the ball landing outside the ground.

He hit six fours and five sixes during his stay, finally falling after mistiming a lofted drive to long-on.

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Salt played second fiddle for much of his innings, scoring 85 from 56 balls, rotating the strike before seizing on any loose bowling.

Brook said the pair tried to keep one another “calm and composed” during their century stand, while “looking to manipulate the field and put them under as much pressure as possible”.

Tom Banton blasted 29 from only 12 balls to end the innings, helping England to the highest T20 total scored in Christchurch.

New Zealand’s chase started poorly, losing both Tim Robinson and Rachin Ravindra in the second over.

It found life with Seifert and Mark Chapman, who combined for a 69-run partnership in quick time, but when both fell either side of the 10-over mark New Zealand’s pursuit had all but ended.

England’s spinners, Adil Rashid (4-32) and Liam Dawson (2-38), and seamer Brydon Carse (2-27) gave away little during their spells as New Zealand were bowled out for 171.

The third match of the T20 series will be played at Eden Park in Auckland on Thursday night.

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