New Zealand seal 3-0 sweep after edging England by two wickets in Wellington

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Wellington, 2 November 2025:

England’s batting frailties continued as New Zealand clinched a two-wicket win in the third one-day international on Saturday, completing a 3-0 series sweep.

England were bowled out for 222 in 40.2 overs after another top-order collapse, with Jamie Overton’s 68 from 62 balls the lone resistance. Blair Tickner (4-64) and Jacob Duffy (3-56) did most of the damage for the hosts.

Chasing 223, New Zealand appeared in control at 187 for 5 before a late wobble. They lost captain Mitchell Santner for 27 and Daryl Mitchell for 44 in a collapse of 3 for 8, leaving the match delicately poised. But an unbeaten ninth-wicket stand between Zak Foulkes and Tickner carried New Zealand home with 32 balls to spare. Rachin Ravindra also contributed a brisk 46 off 37 balls at the top of the order.

Overton capped a fine all-round performance with 2 for 32, but England’s bowlers were again left to defend an under-par total after the top order slumped to 44 for 5. Joe Root (2), captain Harry Brook (6) and Ben Duckett (8) all fell cheaply.

England have now lost 11 of their 15 ODIs this year. Seven members of this squad will travel to Perth to begin preparations for the upcoming Ashes series, which starts on Nov. 21. With only a single warm-up match against the England Lions scheduled, time is running short for the struggling batters to rediscover form before facing Australia.