2nd Twenty20: McCullum powers New Zealand to victory

Tourists beat England by 55 runs to level series 1-1.

HAMILTON: Captain Brendon McCullum led the way with the bat while his bowlers produced a disciplined display to beat England by 55 runs in the second Twenty20 international at Seddon Park yesterday and level the three-match series.

McCullum had anchored New Zealand’s innings to power them to 192 for six with 74 runs from 38 balls as he plundered England’s attack for six boundaries and five sixes.

Mitchell McClenaghan, who took two wickets in successive balls in the second over, Trent Boult and Ian Butler then put the power-packed England batting line-up under constant pressure with aggressive pace bowling.

Butler finished with two for nine, while McClenaghan had two for 24. James Franklin mopped up the tail to finish with four wickets for 14 off 3.3 overs as England were dismissed for 137 in 19.3 overs.

England had won the first match at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday by 40 runs and McCullum said he was pleased his side had put that behind them.

“It was good,” said McCullum. “The other night was disappointing and England blew us off the park. The boys are very happy with the performance and to bounce back from the other day. Today was a really good performance from us.”

England captain Stuart Broad was disappointed with his side’s performance.

“It was obviously a disappointing performance throughout but Twenty20 cricket can be like that,” said Broad. “You can be fantastic one day and then things don’t go your way the next day. So credit goes to New Zealand they outperformed us in everything.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 13^th, 2013.