The New Zealand cricket captain Brendon McCullum was a bit surprised with the ease that England chased down their target to win the fourth one-dayer in Nottingham.
Centuries from captain Eoin Morgan and batsman Joe Root propelled England to a seven-wicket victory over New Zealand, reaching their target of 350 with six overs to spare.
New Zealand cricketer Matt Henry playing England 2015. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Chasing an England record target, Morgan's 113 off 82 balls and a more measured 106 not out from Root helped England comfortably home.
It's the highest-ever run chase by England in ODIs.
It was a dispiriting result for McCullum, who was confident his side had done enough with their first innings total.
He says it was an incredible run chase, he knew they were going to have to play well to beat us and play well they did. "They blew us off the park again."
McCullum says they lacked a bit of accuracy with the ball and they needed to be better.
A knock of 90 from batsman Kane Williamson and half centuries from all-rounder Grant Elliott and opener Martin Guptill had helped the the Black Caps reach 349 for seven, but Alex Hales got England off to a flying start with a quickfire 67 before Morgan and Root took over.
Paceman Matt Henry took two wickets for the Black Caps attack that was missing strike bowler Trent Boult due to injury.
A remarkably high-scoring series will now be decided in Durham on Saturday night.
The England one-day cricket captain Eoin Morgan. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Morgan says it's certainly up there with one of the best games of cricket he's ever played in, the boys showed that aggressive intent right from the get-go.
Brendon McCullum won the toss and chose to bat with New Zealand making steady progress before Williamson came to the crease at 88 for one.
He pushed New Zealand's score past 200 with another century partnership with Ross Taylor (42), while also passing 3000 ODI runs.
Williamson fell 10 runs short of a second consecutive century after he mistimed a drive and was caught by Adil Rashid.
Rashid was in the thick of the action at the end of the tourists' innings, conceding 28 runs in his penultimate over as New Zealand sought to build an imposing total with some late hitting.
Meanwhile, the influential cricket website cricinfo.com reports that New Zealand have called up Central Districts seamer Andrew Mathieson, who's been in the UK playing club cricket, as bowling cover for their limited-overs squad.
Mathieson was the leading wicket-taker in the 2014-15 Ford Trophy.
He's been playing as Sidmouth's overseas player.
