England v New Zealand 3rd ODI: Home side avoid whitewash with 34-run win

England put in a much-improved performance to beat New Zealand in the final game of their three-match series at Trent Bridge today.

They bowled the tourists all out for 253 in 46.3 overs to record a 34-run win and finish the series as 2-1 losers.

New Zealand were on top for the first 45.5 overs of the game, reducing England to 210-5, but from that point on England were dominant.

Some stunning late hitting from Eoin Morgan and in particular Jos Buttler, who ended just three runs short of the fastest ODI half-century of all time, clubbing 47 from 16 balls, took England to 287/6 at the end of their 50 overs.

New Zealand began their chase in similarly attacking style, with the in form Martin Guptill racing to 38 from 36 balls.

However James Tredwell bowled him in his first over, to leave New Zealand 70/2 and give England an inroad into the opposition’s batting card.

The hosts went on to strike twice in two overs, as Joe Root picked up his first ODI wicket, trapping Kane Williamson LBW, and Tim Bresnan then got Colin Munro out first ball.

Tredwell made the next breakthrough for England, once again in the first over of his spell, inducing an edge from Brendon McCullum and having the Black Caps skipper caught behind.

Ross Taylor remained a thorn in England’s side however, and he combined well first with Nathan McCullum putting on a 50 partnership and then with the remainder of the New Zealand tail.

Taylor battled to an excellent and typically swashbuckling 71 but it was ultimately in vain and when he fell, dramatically caught on the boundary with the score at 235/9, the end was nigh for New Zealand and 4 overs later, Finn had last man Mitchell McClenaghan caught on the boundary, to give England the win with 21 balls to spare.