England Edge New Zealand by 3 Wickets in Tense 2nd ODI

England survived one of the most dramatic late collapses in recent ODI history to clinch a tense three-wicket victory over New Zealand in the 2nd ODI at Saxton Oval, Nelson, on January 10, 2026. The result secured an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series and delivered England their first ODI series win in New Zealand since 2018. Chasing a competitive 297 on a flat, small-ground belter, England were cruising at 212 for 2 thanks to Ben Duckett’s fluent 112 and Harry Brook’s aggressive 88, but a sensational Mitchell Santner hat-trick (3-12 in 8 balls) triggered a collapse of 5 for 23, reducing them to 235 for 7 with 62 still required off 48 balls. With nerves jangling across the ground, Jos Buttler (42 off 38)* and Sam Curran (28 off 22)* added an ice-cool unbroken 64-run stand to reach 300 for 7 with 9 balls to spare. New Zealand had earlier posted 296 for 8, built on Rachin Ravindra’s classy 124 and Glenn Phillips’ blistering 68 off 42, but couldn’t defend it despite Santner’s heroics.

Saxton Oval’s compact boundaries (straight boundaries under 65 m) and lightning outfield produced a run-fest under bright sunshine, with 592 runs scored in 88.3 overs — the highest aggregate in an England-New Zealand ODI. Buttler’s decision to bowl first looked questionable when Ravindra and Phillips went berserk in the middle overs, but England’s middle-order depth and Buttler’s calm head under extreme pressure proved decisive. For Tom Latham, the defeat — despite the fightback — means his side must win in Christchurch to avoid a whitewash in their own backyard.

New Zealand XI (same as 1st ODI) 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

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

New Zealand – 296-8 (50 overs) Ravindra and Conway provided a solid platform with 92 for 1 in the first 15 overs. Conway fell for 48, caught at deep midwicket off Mahmood. Ravindra reached a classy 124 off 118 balls (12×4, 3×6) before skying Rashid to long-on. Phillips detonated 68 off 42 (6×4, 5×6), adding 112 in just 66 balls with Ravindra — one of the fastest middle-overs partnerships in ODI history. Late wickets — Santner 18, Bracewell 12 — restricted the surge, but 296 felt competitive on a small ground. Archer 2-62, Mahmood 2-58, Rashid 2-48 — the spinners kept it tight in the middle.

England – 300-7 (48.3 overs) Salt (28) and Duckett added 68 before Salt skied Henry to third man. Duckett and Brook then took complete control with a 156-run 2nd-wicket partnership — the highest stand by England in ODIs at Saxton Oval. Duckett reached his century off 98 balls (14×4) before being trapped lbw by Santner. Brook’s 88 (72 balls, 10×4, 2×6) ended when he miscued a Santner googly to long-on. The collapse was brutal: Livingstone lbw, Curran lbw (review failed), Carse bowled first ball — Santner’s hat-trick in 8 deliveries turned 212 for 2 into 235 for 7. Buttler and Curran then played the perfect calming hand — 64* together, finishing with a pulled six from Curran off Henry and a cover drive from Buttler off O’Rourke. Santner 4-52, Henry 2-58 — but the damage was already done.

Key Moments

• Ravindra-Phillips 112-run stand in 66 balls — fastest middle-overs partnership in NZ ODIs
• Santner’s hat-trick — first by a Kiwi in ODIs vs England
• Buttler-Curran 64* unbroken stand — highest 8th-wicket partnership in successful chases vs NZ
• 9 sixes each side — joint-highest combined in an England-NZ ODI
• 592 aggregate runs — highest in an England-NZ ODI

Player of the Match: Ben Duckett (112 & 2 catches)

Jos Buttler: “We made it incredibly hard for ourselves, but Sam and I pride ourselves on finishing chases under pressure. That’s what we train for. Great character shown by the whole group.”

Tom Latham: “Santner’s spell gave us a real chance, but we were 20-30 runs short with the bat. Credit to England — they stayed calm when it mattered.”

Series: England 2–0 New Zealand (England win series) 3rd ODI (dead rubber): Hagley Oval, Christchurch — January 13 (D/N)

England one step from a clean sweep; New Zealand staring at a potential whitewash unless they produce a miracle in Christchurch.