New Zealand hands England heavy loss in third T20 to stay alive in series

Finn Allen’s 53-ball 83 helped the New Zealanders score 202-5 and set England an imposing target to take a 3-0 lead in the four-match series.

New Zealand’s Finn Allen bats during the third IT20 cricket match between England and New Zealand at Edgbaston, Birmingham, England, Sunday Sept. 3, 2023. | Photo Credit: Nick Potts/ AP

New Zealand ended England’s ambitions of a clean sweep in its Twenty20 series by surging to a 74-run victory in the third match at Edgbaston on Sunday.

Finn Allen’s 53-ball 83 helped the New Zealanders score 202-5 and set England an imposing target to take a 3-0 lead in the four-match series.

England vs New Zealand: Third T20I Scorecard

England’s big hitters were blunted by some disciplined bowling, with only Jos Buttler (40 off 21 balls) making any real headway as his world champion team was dismissed with nine balls remaining having always been well behind the required run rate.

Fit-again pacer Kyle Jamieson had impressive figures of 3-23 in four overs, along with spinner Ish Sodhi (3-33).

The fourth and final T20 is at Trent Bridge on Tuesday, before the teams play four one-day internationals to warm up for the 50-over Cricket World Cup starting next month.

England won the first T20 by seven wickets on Wednesday and the second match by 95 runs on Friday.