England suffer two-wicket loss to New Zealand in third ODI and 3-0 series defeat as batting concerns grow ahead of Ashes

England’s top-order struggles continued ahead of the Ashes during a two-wicket defeat to New Zealand in the third one-day international, as the hosts completed a series sweep in Wellington.

The tourists slumped to 44-5 and 102-7 after losing the toss and batting first at the Sky Stadium, with England's top four of Jamie Smith, Ben Duckett, Joe Root and Jacob Bethell combining for just 21 runs.

Jamie Overton posted his maiden ODI half-century and finished England top scorer for a second successive match, scoring 68 from 62 balls, with Jos Buttler (38) and Brydon Carse (30) offering late support before they were eventually dismissed in the 41st over.

New Zealand completes series sweep- as it happened

Scorecard: New Zealand vs England, third ODI

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New Zealand appeared in control of the chase until openers Devon Conway (34) and Rachin Ravindra (46) fell in successive overs, with the hosts slipping from 78-0 to 149-5 before Daryl Mitchell and Mitch Santner pushed them closer to their target.

Three quick wickets left New Zealand eight down and still requiring 27 runs, but Zak Foulkes (14) and Blair Tickner (18) closed out victory - with 32 balls to spare - to secure a 3-0 series victory.

England's top order fails to deliver

Smith (five) continued his poor series by edging behind to Foulkes, who also trapped Root (two) LBW, with Duckett (eight) top-edging Duffy to mid-off as England's top-order fragility continued.

Brook (six) edged to Bracewell at second slip off Duffy, who also saw Bethell (11) edge behind to leave England in disarray at 44-5 just after the 10-over powerplay, with Sam Curran and Buttler stabilising with a 53-run stand before both were bowled by Tickner.

Carse fired four sixes in his positive 30-ball innings and 58-run partnership with Overton, which ended when Mitchell took a good catch in the covers off Tickner, with Archer (13) dismissed by the same bowler to reduce England to 184-9.

Overton - not available for the Ashes after ruling himself out of consideration - reached his half-century with consecutive boundaries off Tickner and took control of the strike, with 10 fours and two sixes in his innings that ended when he picked out Young in the covers.

It was the third time in the three-match series what England were bowled out considerably inside 50 overs, which will be a concern just weeks out from the first Test against Australia in Perth on November 21.

Hosts hold on despite England fightback

New Zealand built on a steady start to their chase with a chaotic 24-run over off Archer at the end of the powerplay, which included three consecutive Ravindra boundaries and a maximum from Conway.

A run out at the non-striker's end ended Conway's innings soon after, with Overton deflecting Ravindra's drive onto the stumps, before Ravindra was bowled by a beauty from Sam Curran in the next over.

Will Young (one) top-edged Overton, presenting Jos Buttler with a simple catch, while Carse's block inadvertently ran out Tom Latham (10) at the non-striker's end, with Bracewell then slog sweeping Rashid's opening ball to Bethell in the deep to leave New Zealand 149-5.

Santner (27) smashed Carse for a 103-metre maximum onto the roof but gave England a lifeline when he top-edged to Brook at mid-off to end a 44-run stand, the first of three wickets in four overs as Overton bowled Nathan Smith (two) and Mitchell edged through to Buttler.

England were left to rely on Curran and Rashid to try and claim the final two wickets but were unable to break the ninth-wicket partnership, with their defeat an 11th in 15 matches in the 50-over format during a dismal campaign.

Brook: England haven't been good enough

England captain Harry Brook:

"It was an amazing game of cricket at the end. For us to nearly defend a score that wasn't quite enough was a great effort from the lads.

"We haven't got big enough scores to defend and give the bowlers the best chance to win us games, so we will go back and take the learnings.

"It probably didn't help that I didn't win a toss but New Zealand are the second best team in the world [in ODIs] for a reason. They have outplayed us and we haven't been good enough. [Conditions] have been tricky but if we want to be one of the best teams in the world and win competitions we have to find a way."

Santner: Winning the toss was massive

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner:

"Winning the toss and bowling in this game was massive. There was a bit there with the new ball and when you can get wickets in the powerplay, it is massive. It is a challenge when it's nipping around.

"Our opening partnership with the bat was then outstanding. You want guys to finish the job at times but you also don't want them to go away from their natural game."

England in New Zealand: Final results

First T20 (Christchurch): Match abandoned ☔🤦

Second T20 (Christchurch): England win by 65 runs 🔴

Third T20 (Auckland): Match abandoned ☔🤦

First ODI (Mt Maunganui): New Zealand win by four wickets ⚫

Second ODI (Hamilton): New Zealand won by five wickets ⚫

Third ODI: New Zealand win by two wickets ⚫

What's next for England?

England have a three-day match against England Lions in Perth from November 13-15, their only warm-up fixture ahead of taking on Australia in the Ashes.

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