When you are chasing anything above 300 either you do a no-holds-barred or display non-excitement and plant a big partnership to reach the target. New Zealand opted for the later and took a 2-1 lead in the five-match ODI series.
Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson constructed a record 206-run partnership for the third wicket to help the Black Caps chase down England’s 302 in Southampton with six balls to spare.
New Zealand lost Martin Guptill and Brendon McCullum inside seven overs, but Taylor and Williamson scored centuries and provided fluency to New Zealand chase.
Both Taylor and Williamson started slowly, but they soon set free and scored boundaries at will. By the time England broke the partnership, the momentum had shifted in New Zealand’s favour.
“I don’t think aggressive has to mean slogging or hitting the ball 150 metres,” Williamson said. “I think the style of play is what you want to achieve in an innings and the runs you want to get and that dictates who’s picked.”
Earlier, batting first, England posted a more than competitive 302 on the board, courtesy fifties from Joe Root, Eoin Morgana and Ben Stokes. But, none of them managed to convert it into a century.
At one point England were all set to put anything about 320 on the board, but the Black Caps picked wickets in the later part of the innings to pull back things.
“It was nice to pick up those late wickets that restricted them, you don’t usually use that in the same sentence as 300 but with the way scores have been recently it was a good effort,” said Williamson.
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