Martin Guptill (65) and Kane Williamson (72) impressed in the New Zealand innings. All Images: Photosport

A Capital Thriller!

Posted Tuesday, 13 February, 2018 in International Match Reports

The BLACKCAPS are on the T20 Tri-Series board thanks to a 12 run win in Wellington over England.

Guptill and Williamson shine

Two of New Zealand most experienced international Twenty20 players showed all of their skills in an 82 run stand. Colin Munro and Martin Guptill gave the BLACKCAPS a boost early and then Guptill and Kane Williamson never looked back. Guptill was the aggressor early before Williamson found his rhythm and the boundary rope. Guptill would finish with 65 falling to Rashid while Williamson fell to the variations of Chris Jordan for 72. Both players reached their 50s with sixes and then hit the ball following their milestones for six.

Stepping out in style

Mark Chapman and Tim Seifert were both on BLACKCAPS debut in Wellington and both impressed in their maiden outing. Chapman pushed the strike well during his 20 run stay in the middle and showed his power with two sixes. Seifert arrived on the international stage in a tense situation, facing the first ball of the final over of the New Zealand innings. If he was nervous he certainly didn't show it hitting two sixes in the six balls he faced to push the New Zealand total to 196. Seifert then added a run out to cap off a top night for the new boys.

Wickets when needed most

England started their chase in strong fashion at Westpac Stadium with Alex Hales showing his firepower opening the innings. With Jason Roy falling early Dawid Malan then showed he's a player to watch in this format. With the Hales and Malan combination looking ominous the BLACKCAPS were able to find a breakthrough, Hales going just short of his 50 from the bowling of Ish Sodhi. That sparked a familiar pattern for the England innings where as they looked to get going the New Zealanders were able to pull them back. Sodhi and Mitch Santner were able to capture two wickets each through the middle to slow progress. Trent Boult then provided at the death snaring two wickets in two balls to finish the 18th over and ask a lot of England's final pairings.

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