Salt, Brook power England to commanding win over New Zealand

WEB DESK: England dismantled New Zealand by 65 runs in the second T20I at Hagley Oval, thanks to a blistering display from Phil Salt and Harry Brook, followed by a clinical bowling effort led by Adil Rashid.

Opting to bowl first, New Zealand found themselves punished on a quick, dry surface as Salt smashed 85 off 56 and Brook tore into the attack with a 35-ball 78. The pair added 129 runs off just 69 deliveries, propelling England to a record total of 236 for 4, the highest T20I score ever at Hagley Oval. Tom Banton’s quickfire 29 from 12 balls added the finishing touch.

Chasing 237, New Zealand faltered early as Brydon Carse removed both openers in his first over. Tim Seifert and Mark Chapman briefly steadied the innings with a 69-run stand, but Rashid (4 for 32) and Liam Dawson (2 for 22) quickly turned the screws. Captain Mitchell Santner’s late cameo of 36 off 15 was the only highlight in a disappointing chase that ended at 171 all out in the 18th over.

With this emphatic victory, England took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series after the opening game was washed out, underlining their dominance with bat and ball in Christchurch.