Wellington, November 1, 2025 – In a stunning display of disciplined bowling, the New Zealand Blackcaps have ripped through the England batting lineup in the 3rd ODI, skittling them out for a paltry 120 runs. The hosts, who already lead the series 2-0, are now in a commanding position to complete a clean sweep at the Sky Stadium .
NZ vs ENG: A Collapse of Epic Proportions
The day began with England captain Harry Brook winning the toss and electing to bat first, a decision that quickly backfired. The English top order, already under scrutiny, offered little resistance to a fired-up New Zealand attack. The visitors were reduced to a precarious 40/4 within the first 10 overs, with key batsmen like Brook and Jacob Bethell back in the pavilion for ducks [[2], [3]].
The middle order failed to stage any meaningful recovery. Jos Buttler, the wicketkeeper-batter, top-scored with a gritty but ultimately futile 35, facing 58 deliveries. The rest of the lineup crumbled under the relentless pressure from the Kiwi pacers and spinners. The entire innings lasted just 32.4 overs, a testament to the sheer dominance of the home side’s bowling unit .
Blackcaps’ Bowling Masterclass
New Zealand’s bowling attack was a well-oiled machine. Their strategy of probing the channel just outside off-stump and exploiting the early moisture in the pitch paid rich dividends. The seamers extracted just enough movement to keep the English batters guessing, while the spinners choked the runs in the middle overs.
Here’s a breakdown of the key wicket-takers:
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Henry | 7 | 1 | 18 | 3 | 2.57 |
| Trent Boult | 6.4 | 1 | 22 | 3 | 3.30 |
| Mitchell Santner | 8 | 0 | 30 | 2 | 3.75 |
| William O’Rourke | 7 | 0 | 28 | 2 | 4.00 |
What This Means for England
This performance raises serious questions about England’s white-ball strategy and batting resilience. After a period of aggressive, boundary-laden cricket, this collapse suggests a vulnerability against high-quality, disciplined bowling in challenging conditions. With the ICC Champions Trophy on the horizon, the management has a lot of work to do to rebuild confidence in the squad .
The Road Ahead for New Zealand
For the Blackcaps, this is a perfect opportunity to build momentum. A series whitewash against a top-ranked side like England would be a massive confidence booster. Their focus will now shift to their chase. With a modest target of 121, the onus is on their openers to get off to a solid start and seal the deal without much fuss.
The Sky Stadium crowd is already celebrating a potential victory, and the Blackcaps are just 121 runs away from completing a dominant series win.