England claim series after rain ruins Auckland decider

Only 3.4 overs possible on blustery, grey day at Eden Park

Andrew Miller

23-Oct-2025 • 3 hrs ago

New Zealand 38 for 1 (Seifert 23*) vs England - match abandoned

England claimed the spoils in their T20I series against New Zealand, after the third and final match at Auckland went the same way as the series opener in Christchurch - lost to the weather as steady early-season rain swept in to curtail the contest after just 3.4 overs.

In the limited time available, Tim Seifert made the running for New Zealand with an enterprising knock of 23 not out from 11 balls. He launched his innings with two fours off Luke Wood in the three balls that were possible prior to the evening's first hour-and-a-half-long delay. Then - after the match resumed as 14 overs a side - he struck three sixes off the extra pace of Brydon Carse, including an outrageous reverse-scoop over fine leg that was well caught in the crowd.

Carse did hit back at the other end, removing Tim Robinson for 3 as Jacob Bethell clung on well to a top-edged pull at deep midwicket. Wood then bowled an effective over to the left-handed Rachin Ravindra, finding sharp late movement in the seam-friendly conditions. But moments after Seifert had landed the third of his sixes, the rain returned once more.

Despite a planned resumption at 10pm local time - with the match further reduced to eight overs a side - the grim weather returned just as the players were preparing to take the field, and the match was abandoned soon afterwards.

It completed an unsatisfactory early-season foray for New Zealand, whose curtain-raising series against Australia at the start of the month had similarly been affected by the weather. They had made the running in the series opener, limiting England's hard-hitting line-up to 153 for 6 on a seaming wicket at Hagley Oval, but were blown away in the return fixture two days later, losing by 65 runs after England had smashed the ground record with their total of 236 for 4.

England chose to bowl first having named an unchanged XI for this decider. Despite the grey weather and unusually short boundaries at Eden Park, they decided to trust the balance that had impressed in Christchurch, with Liam Dawson retained as a second spinner ahead of an extra seam option.

New Zealand, meanwhile, made one change - Zak Foulkes coming in for Kyle Jamieson. But in the end, it was all academic.

Andrew Miller is UK editor of ESPNcricinfo. @miller_cricket

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