New Zealand completed a 3-0 ODI series sweep over England after edging a tense two-wicket win in Wellington. Blair Tickner and Zak Foulkes held their nerve in an unbroken ninth-wicket stand to chase down 223, sealing victory with more than thirty balls to spare.
Tickner, who earlier grabbed 4 for 64, combined with Jacob Duffy’s new-ball burst to dismantle England’s top order, leaving them 44 for 5 inside 11 overs. Jamie Overton’s fighting 68 off 62 balls lifted England to 222, but it proved insufficient once New Zealand’s top order laid a steady foundation through Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra’s 78-run opening stand.
Despite a late collapse from 188 for 5 to 196 for 8, Daryl Mitchell’s composed 44 and Tickner’s cool finish guided the hosts home. The result handed England another batting failure in seam-friendly conditions, marking their eighth straight loss in bilateral ODIs.
