Summary

  • First T20 in Christchurch washed out

  • England had posted 153-6 before rain arrived

  • Sam Curran (49* off 35) led recovery from 81-5

  • Second game of three-match series on Monday at Hagley Oval

Live Reporting

by Timothy Abraham

  1. 6 runs

    Eng 56-2

    Harry Brook greets England's old friend Jimmy Neesham by smacking his medium pace for six over long-off. Great shot.

  2. Eng 50-2

    Mitch Santner brings himself on and does not concede a boundary in the first over of spin in the match. England have a lot of spin in their side and not much pace. That had looked the wrong balance until that over.

  3. How's stat?!

    Ben Jones
    CricViz analyst

    A classic bit of Jos Buttler at the end of the powerplay there. His record in the sixth over of T20Is - 260 runs twice out, averaging 130 and striking at 170 - is immense.

  4. Eng 44-2

    I was going to come to this, Chris. The umpire is wearing a shield on his arm to hold up to protect his face when the ball is bashed back. I first saw Bruce Oxenford doing this in an ODI between England and Sri Lanka.

  5. Get Involved

    #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)

    Can we just talk about the intriguing looking contraption on the umpire's arm!?

    Chris

  6. Eng 41-2

    A struggle for another but Jos Buttler it seems. A whip off the pads and then his trademark scoop.

  7. Eng 33-2

    Harry Brook struggles early as Jacob Bethell did before swinging one away on the pull to take his first runs. It's a struggle.

  8. Not out

    That's why I'm not an umpire. It was missing leg stump.

  9. It might be missing leg. Maybe umpire's call...

  10. New Zealand review

    This looks out! Harry Brook pinned on the pad first ball.

    "It is not high," says a New Zealand fielder as Mitch Santner reviews.

  11. Shane Bond
    Former New Zealand bowler Shane Bond on TNT Sports

    Jacob Bethell looked dangerous and like he had started to get used to the pace of the pitch. However, he was through the shot. A great breakthrough for New Zealand.

  12. wicket

    WICKET

    Bethell c&b Henry 15 (Eng 29-2)

    You can turn back on, Ollie! Jacob Bethell had started to find his groove but falls on the pull as he skies a top edge. Bowler Matt Henry tells everyone to get out of his way and takes the catch himself.

  13. Eng 29-1

    And just like that Jacob Bethell is up to 15 and Ollie Pope has turned his TV off somewhere in south London.

  14. Eng 28-1

    This one has been clattered through mid-wicket by Bethell too.

  15. 6 runs

    Eng 24-1

    There we go.

    Having miscued another, Jacob Bethell looks straight and pings Jacob Duffy over long-on for six.

  16. How's stat?!

    Ben Jones
    CricViz analyst

    Jacob Duffy's outstanding year continues. That's his 47th wicket in 2025, his most for any year in his career - almost a third of his T20 wickets have come in the last 10 months.

  17. Eng 14-1

    Jacob Bethell is struggling to lay bat on bowl. He's coming down the pitch, trying to knock Matt Henry off his length but keeps swishing at fresh air.

    Finally, from his seventh delivery he tucks one into the leg side for two.

  18. Eng 12-1

    Bethell misses another as the ball zips away.

  19. Shane Bond
    Former New Zealand bowler Shane Bond on TNT Sports

    Phil Salt likes the leg side but there was a bit of swing and there's enough in the pitch for Jacob Duffy. Then Mark Chapman, we've seen this a lot from him - he's got great hands.

  20. Eng 11-1

    Buttler 8, Bethell 0

    That wicket means an early look at Jacob Bethell, who could have a huge few months ahead.

    He made a big impact in New Zealand on the Test tour a year ago. Here he chases his second delivery with a booming driving but fails to connect.