by England rout NZ 65 runs at Hagley Oval – Brook named Player of Match
26 Oct, 2025When Harry Brook, England T20I captain, smashed 78 runs off just 35 balls, England edged New Zealand by 65 runs at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval on 24 October 2025. The win put the visitors 1‑0 up in a three‑match series and set a new ground‑record total of 236/4.
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and chose to field – a decision that back‑fired within the first over. England’s opening partnership of Phil Salt and Brook accelerated the scoring rate, turning a modest start into a blistering chase‑setter.
Record‑breaking total at Hagley Oval
During the second T20I of England’s 2025 tour of New ZealandHagley Oval, the home side saw a target that eclipsed any previous score at the venue. The 236/4 tally broke the old record of 221 set in 2019, and it came with a strike‑rate of 178.9. Salt’s 89 off 56 balls (including 11 fours and 5 sixes) and Brook’s 78 off 35 (9 fours, 4 sixes) accounted for 71% of the runs.
England’s middle order added the finishing touch: Jos Buttler contributed a quick 31*, while Adil Rashid chipped in a handy 15 off 8.
Batting fireworks: Salt and Brook lead the charge
Salt, who has been dubbed ‘Salty’ by teammates, opened with a fearless approach, hitting a boundary every 5.1 balls. When he was finally dismissed for 89, the scoreboard read 127/1 – a platform that left the opposition guessing.
Brook, meanwhile, took the reins after the fall of the first wicket, unleashing a flurry of aerial shots. In a 35‑ball cameo, he struck 78, including a massive six off Mitchell Santner that sent the crowd into a roar. “It felt good. It’s always nice to contribute, and to do it alongside Salty who’s been very successful for us in this new era,” Brook said during the presentation. “The sun helped, the pitch was a little flatter, and I just loved hitting a few out of the park.”
New Zealand’s chase crumbles
New Zealand’s innings never found rhythm. England’s fast bowler Brydon Carse struck early, removing Rachin Ravindra and Tim Seifert in the second over. Liam Dawson and Adil Rashid then applied relentless pressure, clipping the run‑rate to under 7 per over by the 10th over.
At 144/6 in 15 overs, the Kiwis still needed 93 from the final 30 balls – a daunting ask that they never cleared. The final wicket fell when Jacob Duffy was caught on the boundary, marking the 10th dismissal via a catch, a rarity recorded only 13 times in men’s T20I history according to TVNZ.
“We struggled to execute our plans,” admitted New Zealand’s opening bowler Kyle Jamieson in the post‑match interview. “The ball was moving, and the English bowlers kept us under the lights.”
Reactions and expert take
Former England all‑rounder Ben Stokes praised the team’s aggression: “What you saw today was the kind of fearless cricket we want to play all the time. Setting a record at Hagley Oval shows the depth of our batting and the discipline of our bowlers.”
Cricket analysts pointed out that England’s 236/4 is the third‑highest score in any T20I played in New Zealand, trailing only the 241/3 by Australia in 2022 and the 239/5 by South Africa in 2021. The 65‑run margin also marks England’s biggest win at the venue since 2017.
What lies ahead in the series
The third and final T20I is slated for 26 October 2025 at Auckland’s Eden Park. With the series poised at 1‑0, New Zealand will need to tighten their fielding and find a partnership that can chase anything above 200. England, confident after the Hagley Oval triumph, will likely stick with the aggressive top order that paid dividends.
If the visitors maintain the current momentum, they could clinch the series 2‑0, a result that would further cement their dominance in white‑ball cricket under Brook’s nascent captaincy.
- Record total: 236/4 (new Hagley Oval record)
- Top scores: Phil Salt 89 (56 balls), Harry Brook 78 (35 balls)
- New Zealand chase: 144/6 in 15 overs, 65‑run loss
- All 10 New Zealand dismissals were catches (13th such occurrence in T20I history)
- Series lead: England 1‑0, final match on 26 Oct at Eden Park
Frequently Asked Questions
How does England’s win affect their World Cup qualification hopes?
The victory boosts England’s confidence ahead of the 2027 ICC T20 World Cup qualifiers. While the series itself isn’t part of the qualification process, the momentum could translate into stronger performances in upcoming bilaterals that count toward ranking points, which are a key seed in the qualifier draw.
What were the key factors behind New Zealand’s batting collapse?
England’s early breakthroughs, especially Carse’s double‑wicket over, forced NZ into a defensive mindset. Consistent line‑and‑length from Dawson and Rashid kept the run rate low, and a string of catches – all 10 dismissals – meant New Zealand never built a partnership above 30 runs.
Who are the standout performers for England so far on this tour?
Harry Brook has emerged as a decisive captain‑batsman, while Phil Salt’s aggressive opening has yielded two back‑to‑back 80‑plus scores. Brydon Carse’s early wickets and Adil Rashid’s tight overs have also been pivotal in limiting the opposition.
When is the final match of the series and where will it be played?
The series concludes with the third T20I on 26 October 2025 at Eden Park in Auckland. Both teams will be looking to finish the tour on a high note, with New Zealand aiming to level the series.