Auckland Agony: England Edge New Zealand by 4 Wickets in Rain-Affected 2nd ODI
England clinched the three-match ODI series with a tense four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the 2nd ODI at Saxton Oval, Nelson, on January 10, 2026, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead despite rain interruptions reducing the match to 45 overs per side. Batting first after Jos Buttler won the toss, New Zealand recovered from a top-order collapse to post 245 for 7, anchored by Rachin Ravindra’s resilient 85 off 102 balls and Glenn Phillips’ late blitz of 48 off 32. England’s chase, reaching 246 for 6 in 44.3 overs, was powered by Ben Duckett’s composed 92 off 98 and Harry Brook’s unbeaten 68 off 72, their 112-run third-wicket stand proving decisive. Jofra Archer’s 3 for 48 and Adil Rashid’s 2 for 42 choked the Kiwis’ middle order, while rain delays (two 30-minute interruptions) added drama but favored the tourists’ DLS-adjusted target.
Saxton Oval’s compact boundaries and true bounce under a drizzly Nelson sky produced a competitive contest, with the pitch quickening under lights but dew aiding the chase. Buttler’s decision to field first exploited early seam, but New Zealand’s middle-order grit kept them competitive. For Tom Latham, the defeat — despite the fightback — means a whitewash looms in Christchurch; for Buttler, it’s a statement series win without rested stars like Jofra Archer (managed workload). As Brook punched the winning single off Matt Henry amid soggy celebrations, England’s tour dominance was complete.
New Zealand XI (1 change) Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, Tom Latham (c & wk), Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy, William O’Rourke (Lockie Ferguson rested; Duffy returns)
England XI (same as 1st ODI) Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (c & wk), Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Saqib Mahmood, Adil Rashid
Umpires: Chris Brown & Wayne Knights. Third umpire: Shaun Haig.
New Zealand – 245-7 (45 overs) Young fell for 8 in the third over — caught behind off Archer. Ravindra and Conway added 68; Conway lbw to Mahmood for 28. Ravindra reached 85 off 102 (9×4) before holing out to long-on off Rashid. Phillips’ late 48 off 32 (4×4, 3×6) added 78 in 9 overs with Mitchell (32). Rain reduced overs to 45; Archer 3-48, Rashid 2-42.
England – 246-6 (44.3 overs) Salt (28) and Duckett added 68 before Salt skied Henry. Duckett and Brook forged 156-run 2nd-wicket stand — Duckett’s 92 (98 balls, 10×4) ended lbw to Santner. Brook 68* off 72 (7×4, 2×6) finished with a cover drive off O’Rourke. DLS target adjusted to 242 after rain; Santner 2-48, Henry 2-58.
Key Moments
- Ravindra-Phillips 78-run stand in 54 balls
- Duckett-Brook 156-run partnership — highest 2nd-wicket vs NZ at Saxton
- Rain interruptions: Two 30-minute delays reduced overs to 45
- Brook’s 68* — fastest unbeaten chase fifty by an Englishman in NZ
Player of the Match: Ben Duckett (92) Player of the Series: Ben Duckett (204 runs @ 102.00)
Jos Buttler: “Duckett and Brook were brilliant. Whitewash feels special — series to T20Is now.”
Tom Latham: “Gave it everything, but 245 was 20 short. Christchurch dead rubber — pride on the line.”
Final Series Result: England 2–0 New Zealand (England win series) England now turn to T20Is vs India; New Zealand face Australia in February.
White-ball kings crowned in Nelson.
