No Henry, no problem! Comeback man Tickner's career-best 4-fer packs England lineup for 175 in 36 overs, New Zealand clinch series with 5-wicket win

No Matt Henry, no Kyle Jamieson but England batters were not up for challenge in the second ODI of the series at Seddon Park, Hamilton. Playing his first ODI since tour of Pakistan in 2023, Blair Tickner registered his career-best four-wicket haul to bowl out England for 175 in 36 overs. Even Harry Brook and Jamie Overton could not save England from a batting collapse. In the run chase, fifties from Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell, skipper Mitchell Santner's cameo took the hosts home with five wickets in hand and 16.5 overs to spare.

England’s star batters disappoint again

Santner won the toss and opted to bowl first. England opener Ben Duckett fell early for a single-digit score to Jacob Duffy.  Jamie Smith hit a four and a six but his stay at the crease was short-lived. The opener scored 13 runs from 17 balls before becoming Zakary Foulkes' victim in the sixth over. Just when a partnership was building, Tickner was introduced into the attack and he got the wicket of Joe Root who scored 25 runs from 34 balls. Tickner would've dismissed as well but Santner could not hold on to a tough catch at mid-off. Nathan Smith joined the party with Jacob Bethell's wicket. He scored 18 runs from 28 balls. Jos Buttler's lean run in New Zealand continued as Nathan dismissed him lbw in 19th over. England lost half the side for 81.

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After Brook’s departure, Tickner mops up tail quickly

It seemed like Brook has picked off right where he left. The left-arm spinner in his third over got rid of Brook. He played the cut shot towards backward point and Will Young took a sensational one-handed catch. The skipper contributed with a run-a-ball 34. Overton felt that he needed to take the attack to the opposition. But, Sam Curran was knocked over by Michael Bracewell and England lost their seventh. Santner brought Tickner back into the attack. He was hit for a four and a six by Overton. Santner persisted with him and he continued to chip away. First, Brydon Carse fell. Then, Overton was caught at mid-off but Santner for a 28-ball 42. Tickner wrapped up England's innings with the wicket of Adil Rashid. He bowled eight overs including one maiden, conceded 34 runs and claimed four wickets.

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Archer strikes early, Ravindra scores fifty

Jofra Archer returned with a bang. He got the wicket of Young for a four-ball duck. Kane Williamson and Rachin Ravindra looked to play out the new ball. After Archer conceded just eight runs from first five overs, Williamson and Ravindra looked to hit boundaries. But Overton in his first over bowled a cutter to knock over Williamson. He scored 21 runs from 39 balls. Curran's bad day at the office continued as Daryl hit him for a four and a six. In the 21st over, Ravindra got to his half-century from 52 balls. Archer ended the opener's stay at the crease. He scored 54 runs from 58 balls. 

Daryl, Santner finish it off

Tom Latham could not cruise towards the target and became Rashid's first victim. On the last ball of his spell, Archer removed Bracewell. He bowled 10 overs including four maidens, conceded 23 runs and claimed three wickets. Rashid took a beating as he was hit for a six each from Santner and Daryl's bat in the 31st over. Daryl reached his second consecutive fifty from 56 balls Santner gave a similar treatment to Carse as well. Then Overton bowled an expensive over. On the first ball of the 34th over, Daryl finished the run chase with a boundary. Daryl scored 56 runs from 59 balls, featuring six fours and a couple of sixes. On the other end, Santner contributed with a 17-ball 34 laced with three sixes.

How Tickner was recalled