New Zealand vs England: Colin Munro's baffling review and Ross Taylor's epic hundred stand out in thrilling fourth ODI

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Colin Munro was in the thick of things in the fourth ODI.

    New Zealand pipped England by five wickets in a thriller of a fourth ODI at Dunedin to tie the five-match series at 2-2.

    In a high-scoring affair, the Blackcaps got over the line with three balls to spare as they chased down England’s huge total of 335-9.

    In a match where fortunes oscillated between either sides at various stages, we look at the good and the bad.

    THE GOOD

    Taylor’s Epic

    That Ross Taylor is playing the best cricket of his career at the moment is no exaggeration. His century and partnership with Tom Latham had been pivotal in the hosts clinching the first ODI at Hamilton.

    On Wednesday, he found himself at the batting crease fairly early with New Zealand rocking at 2-2. Following the departure of Kane Williamson, Taylor once again combined with Latham to put on a momentum-shifting partnership of 187 runs.

    Injuring himself while putting in a dive shortly after reaching his 19th ODI century, Taylor continued to soldier on in admirable fashion despite limping. He smashed six sixes and 17 boundaries on his way to an unbeaten 147-ball 181 as he stayed until the very end to see the hosts home.

    Taylore soldiered on despite an injury to see his side home.

    Taylore soldiered on despite an injury to see his side home.

    Sodhi halts England charge

    On a pitch which was excellent for batting, England got off to a flier after Eoin Morgan won the toss and elected to bat first. Ish Sodhi broke a threatening 77-run opening stand by removing Jason Roy but England asserted control over proceedings with a 190-run partnership between Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root.

    The pair eventually fell in quick succession but England were poised to touch 400 with the batting still to come. Sodhi, however, made sure that the total would remain within manageable limits for the hosts with a three-wicket burst that broke the visitors’ middle-order.

    He dismissed the dangerous Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali in quick succession to halt England’s momentum. Sodhi ultimately finished with figures of 4-58 in his 10 overs, truly excellent figures in the context of the match.

    Sodhi's four-wicket haul turned the tide in England's innings.

    Sodhi’s four-wicket haul turned the tide in England’s innings.

    THE BAD

    England’s middle-order loses initiative

    At 267-1 in the 38th over, the tourists were well places to inflict further misery on the hosts as we entered the death overs. It all came undone for England, however, as they lost wickets in a heap in their pursuit to up the scoring-rate even further.

    Buttler, Stokes and Morgan all fell while trying to play ambitious shots as England were suddenly reduced to 280-6. Tom Curran landed a few blows towards the end, but in hindsight, it was too little, too late.

    Morgan’s men only scored 68 runs for the loss of eight wickets in their final 12 overs, a period which eventually cost them the match.

    The likes of Stokes were guilty of squandering England's advantage.

    The likes of Stokes were guilty of squandering England’s advantage.

    Munro’s wasted review

    Chasing 336, a lot of responsibility rested on the shoulders of Colin Munro and Martin Guptill to get New Zealand off to a good start. It wasn’t to be though, with the former perishing for a duck as  Curran trapped him lbw with his very first delivery.

    Munro failed to connect with the ball as he attempted to lazily flick Curran’s in-swinger over the leg-side and was struck on the pads. It looked dead plumb to the naked eye as the umpire raised his finger but, Munro bafflingly opted to review. Replays showed the ball to be crashing into the middle-stump, making Munro’s long back to the pavilion even more embarrassing.

    Recommended