From 33/5, Harry Brook whacks 11 sixes in scintillating 135, becomes 1st England captain in 50 years to achieve rare feat in New Zealand

England batters were caught napping by Zakary Foulkes in the ODI series opener at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui. After Matt Henry dismissed Jamie Smith for a golden duck, England found themselves at 10/4 in the sixth over. Then, they were 33/5 as Foulkes dismissed Jos Buttler. A few overs later, Sam Curran departed too and it seemed that England will be bundled out soon. But, captain Harry Brook led from the front, not losing his natural instinct to attack in the process. Brook smashed his second ODI century and became first England captain to cross the three figures in the format against New Zealand in New Zealand.

Brook's long list of achievements

It was Alastair Cook who came the closest to a century against New Zealand in New Zealand. Cook scored 78 in Napier in 2013. More than a decade later, Brook smashed 11 sixes and nine fours in his 101-ball 135. Only Sri Lanka's Thisara Perera has hit more sixes (13) than Brook in ODIs. Other batters who have hit 11 sixes in an ODI innings against New Zealand are Australia's Marcus Stoinis and Pakistan's Fakhar Zaman.

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He also became the fourth touring England batter to score an ODI century against New Zealand after Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root and Chris Broad.

Overall, he became third England captain to score an ODI century against New Zealand. The first to achieve the feat was Graham Gooch with an unbeaten 112 at The Oval in 1990. In 2015, Eoin Morgan achieved the feat with an 113-run knock at Trent Bridge, Nottingham.

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Brook becomes six-hitting menace

Brook shared an 87-run partnership for the seventh wicket with Jamie Overton who scored 46 runs from 54 balls. But soon after Overton's wicket and Brydon Carse falling in quick succession, he decided to go ballistic. In the 32nd over, he hit Jacob Duffy for three consecutive sixes to reach his century from 82 balls. Then, he hit Matt Henry for three sixes in an over. It was BlackCaps captain Mitchell Santner who ended Brook's stay at the crease on the second ball of the 36th over. England posted 223 on the board, thanks to Brook's record-breaking ton.

Brook surpasses legends but misses top mark by a whisker

Brook missed out on breaking the record for highest score by a touring captain against New Zealand in ODIs. Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting holds the record with an unbeaten 141 in Napier in 2005. Brook shares the second spot with West Indies' Chris Gayle who scored 135 in Napier in 2009. Other touring captains to score an ODI century against New Zealand are West Indies' Viv Richards, Australia's Greg Chappell, South Africa's AB de Villiers, West Indies, Dwayne Bravo, Australia's Mike Hussey and Sri Lanka's Sanath Jayasuriya.