Morgan, Root power England home

Hosts chase down Kiwis' 350-run target to square series 2-2

England captain Eoin Morgan struck a blistering century in a record winning-chase as his side beat New Zealand by seven wickets in the fourth ODI at Trent Bridge to level the five-match series at 2-2.

Morgan made 113 and Joe Root 106 not out as England finished on 350 for three with six overs to spare.

It was the equal fourth highest total by any team batting second to win an ODI.Root and Morgan’s stand of 198 was the highest third wicket ODI partnership against New Zealand. England had earlier held New Zealand to 349 for seven.

Kane Williamson top-scored with 90 following his 118 in World Cup finalists New Zealand’s three-wicket win at Southampton on Sunday.

The most England had previously made batting second to win an ODI was 306 for five against Pakistan at Karachi in 2000.

But they stayed true to their intention to play an attacking brand of cricket following a humiliating first-round exit at this year’s World Cup -- which included an eight-wicket defeat by New Zealand.

They scored 97 runs in the first 10 overs of their reply after the innings started with a maiden from left-arm paceman Ben Wheeler. But Wheeler’s next three overs cost 41 runs.
Following a brief rain break, Alex Hales carried on from where he had left on his Nottinghamshire home ground, with Mitchell McClenagan’s first over going for 22.Hales finished the over with two huge sixes over deep square leg to the delight of a near capacity crowd of 16,726.

But fast bowler Matt Henry removed Hales (67) and fellow opener Jason Roy (38) in a spell of two wickets for seven runs in eight balls. Root came in at 111 for two.

The Yorkshireman was missed on nine, as not for the first time this series, Ross Taylor dropped a slip catch. Meanwhile former Ireland international Morgan drove McClenaghan and Henry for well-struck sixes.

He took only 39 balls for his fifty against an attack missing the steadying influence of injured left-arm paceman Trent Boult. 

Morgan went to his century in style, with a fifth six, over long-on off Henry. His 73-ball ton also included 11 fours. He eventually holed out off Southee.

Root followed his skipper to three figures, in 94 balls with 12 fours, as he posted his second hundred of the series following his 104 in England’s 210-run win in the first ODI at Edgbaston.