NZ vs ENG Ball by Ball Commentary

FOUR! A STREAKY BOUNDARY TO CLOSE THE INNINGS! Slower, short-of-a-good-length delivery, pushed across the batter. Curran swings hard, gets the outside edge that goes past the short third fielder for four runs. England finish with 153/6.

Slower ball, into the pitch, and around off. Curran slices the cut uppishly, toward the deep backward point region for two more.

WIDE! Pitched full, and pushed across the tramline. Curran plays and misses. Wide given.

SIX! SMOKED! Low full toss on the middle. Curran picks it early and dispatches it over the deep square leg fence for a much needed hit.

FOUR! VALUABLE RUNS! Slower, back-of-a-length delivery, around off. Curran stays deep in the crease and forces the hack over the infield, toward long off for a boundary. Mitchell makes a valiant attempt coming from long on but fails to stop it.

Full-length delivery on the middle and leg. Curran mistimes the whip toward the deep mid-wicket region for a couple.

Fuller than a length and pushed across the batter. Curran swings and misses. A dot to start the final over.

Low full toss on the middle. Curran flicks it toward deep mid-wicket and settles for a single. Just seven runs coming off the penultimate over.

Slower bumper, just outside off. Curran hangs back to play the upper cut but does not connect.

Full-length delivery, on the middle and leg stump line. Curran shuffles across to play the scoop but misses and is pinned in front. Appeal from the bowler and up goes the finger. Curran goes for the review. The ball tracking shows it is pitching outside the leg stump. Curran survives a close shout.

Full and at the sticks, almost a yorker. Carse makes room and bunts it down to long on for one.

Slower and shorter on off. Sam Curran pulls it to deep mid-wicket and settles with one.

Pitched full, on the middle. Curran whips it uppishly toward the deep mid-wicket region for a couple.

NO BALL! Full-length delivery in the blockhole. Curran misses the clip, gets the inside edge onto the pad, and it rolls toward the keeper. Oh No! Kyle Jamieson has overstepped here. No ball given. Free hit coming up.

WIDE! Jamieson bowls it full and follows the batter down the leg. Curran shuffles across and looks to flick but he misses. Wide to start the penultimate over.

IN THE AIR AND DROPPED! Full-length delivery outside off. Curran slices the drive and it goes straight to the deep point fielder, where Tim Robinson shells down a sitter. Single taken by Curran. England are 127/6 with two overs left.

Slower and shorter, around off. Carse was settling to play the pull initially but changes his mind and upper cuts it toward the deep third region for a single.

Low full toss outside off. Curran drills it toward extra cover and takes a single.

Yorker length delivery on the leg. Curran clips off the toe toward the long leg region for two more.

Pitched full, on the middle. Curran works it through the mid-wicket region and scampers back for the second.

FOUR! MUCH NEEDED! Back of a length, outside off. Curran throws his hand and slices the cut over the backward point region for a boundary to start the over.

Pitched full, around off. Curran drills it to deep point for a single.

Back of a length, just outside off. Carse rides the bounce and dabs down to deep third for one.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! Kyle Jamieson gets among the wickets. Bowls a scrambled seam delivery on a fullish length, on the middle. Cox miscues it high toward the long on region. Daryl Mitchell comes in from the ropes and takes a simple catch. England are in a spot of bother.

FOUR! SMASHED! Low full toss, outside off. Cox dispatches it over the wide mid off region for a thumping boundary.

Very full, outside the off-stump line. Cox tries to reach out and squeeze through the covers but fails to connect.

Back of a length, on middle. Curran pulls it through square leg for one.

IN THE AIR AND DROPPED! Slower, back-of-a-length delivery, pushed across the batter. Curran miscues the pull into the short mid-wicket region, where Duffy shells the chance off his bowling. He never looked like taking it, and the ball wobbled a bit in the air, which made it even harder for him. Curran gets a run and a life as well!

FOUR LEG BYES! Fuller than a length, angling down the leg. Curran misses the flick and it helps off the pad, rolls past the keeper, runs down to fine leg for four leg byes.

Slower and shorter, on the middle stump line. Cox mistimes the pull through square leg and picks one.

FOUR! CLEVER BATTING! Full and at the stumps. Cox gets across the line and helps it over the man at short fine leg for a boundary. 100 up for England!

Short of a good length, scrambled seam delivery on off. Curran waits back and dabs it down to short third for a single.

Slower back of a length delivery, on the middle and leg. Cox pulls it through mid-wicket for a single.

Tad short, around off. Curran goes back and pulls hard but finds the man at short mid-wicket. End of a tidy spell from Santner.

Darted full, on the middle and leg. Curran moves across and jams into the leg side.

SIX! UP AND OVER! Fired in full, on off. Curran steps across and pumps it over the bowler, toward the sight screen for a much needed hit.

Flatter and quicker on the middle and leg. Curran hits it to the man at short mid-wicket.

Slower through the air, and outside off. Cox reaches for it but slices the cut toward deep cover for one.

Tad short, outside off. Cox cuts it to the man at short extra cover.

Tossed up full, on off. Cox knocks it down to long on for a single.

Loopy delivery on the full, spins a tad around off. Curran looks to swing across the line, gets the outside edge toward short third for one.

Very full, on the middle and leg. Cox backs away and bunts it to the right of the bowler for one.

Tosses it on a length and outside off. Curran mistimes the cut toward extra cover and crosses for one.

Tossed up full, on off. Cox eases this to long on for one.

Flatter delivery, at the stumps. Cox knocks it back to the bowler.

Pitched full, on the leg. Cox flicks it around the corner for a run.

Another dot, excellent delivery on the full, just outside off. Cox looks to squeeze it away but misses.

Yorker length delivery, just outside off. Cox jams into the off-side. Three dots in a row.

Good length delivery at the stumps. Driven back to the bowler who stops in his follow-through.

Slower ball on the full, on off. Cox is early into the drive and hits it on the bounce to the mid off fielder.

Length ball on the leg. Curran works it through mid-wicket for a single.

Floated full, around off. Curran pushes it down to long off for one.

In the air and safe! Curran looks to work this fullish ball into the leg-side and closes the bat-face early. Fortunately for the batter, the leading edge doesn't carry to extra cover.

Tossed up on the middle and leg. Cox flicks it through mid-wicket for a single to get off the mark.

OUT! CAUGHT! Michael Bracewell gets the big fish! Tossed up full, on off. Buttler shimmies down and looks to launch it over the bowler. Fails to get the timing and the distance, goes high toward straightish long off, where Matt Henry runs around and takes a sharp catch. Buttler walks back for  29 off 25, and England have lost half of their side now.

Fuller and quicker, on the middle and leg. Buttler nudges it toward short fine leg and a fumble from Jamieson allows the batters to take two.

Tossed up full, around off. Curran drives it to the man at short extra cover. A misfield, and the batters cross for a single.

Flatter delivery, angled into the middle and leg. Curran knocks it down to long on for one.

Pushed through fuller, at the sticks. Buttler looks to drive, gets the inside edge onto the pad, it rolls into covers and they take one.

Flatter arm ball, angled in on off. Buttler prods and knocks it into covers.

On a length, on the middle. Punched down to long on for a single to get off the mark.

Flatter and quicker delivery, on the leg pole. Sam Curran pats it down to the man at short mid-wicket.

OUT! TAKEN! Mitchell Santner gets among the wickets! Tosses it on a length, on the middle stump line. Banton shimmies down and looks to clear the long on boundary. Gets the height but does not get the distance and is caught by James Neesham near the ropes. England lose their fourth wicket now.

Low full toss, just outside off. Banton bunts it toward extra cover and takes a quick single.

Slower, back of a length, around the hip. Banton tucks it round the corner, toward short fine leg for none.

FOUR! UP AND OVER! Pitched full, on the middle and leg. Banton makes room and lifts it just over the man at mid off for a thumping boundary.

LEG BYE! Slower length ball, on the middle and leg. Jos Buttler tucks it off the pad toward square leg for a leg bye.

Short of a good length on off. Jos Buttler gets behind the line and dabs it toward backward point.

Pitched full, on off. Tom Banton drives it toward mid-off and takes a single.

Slower through the air, on a length, outside off. Jos Buttler chops into the off-side.

Flatter arm ball, on the middle and leg. Tom Banton shimmies down and works it through the leg side for one.

Tossed up full, on off. Tom Banton chips it toward the deep cover region for a couple.

Flighted full, on off. Banton pushes it to the man at short cover.

Loopy delivery, just outside off. Banton prods and defends into covers.

Tossed up on off. Buttler hits it down to long on for a single.

OUT! BOWLED'EM! James Neesham gets the big wicket of the English skipper! Bowls a slower delivery, on a length and outside the leg stump line. Brook makes space to tuck it through the leg side, but he misses. The ball clips the back pad and ricochets onto the stumps. An unlucky dismissal but Brook is a goner. England are three down.

Short of a good length, just outside off. Jos Buttler knocks it through the gap at covers for a single.

Back of a length delivery on the middle stump line. Brook tucks it through mid-wicket and settles for one.

SIX! HELPED AWAY! Short of a good length, follows the batter outside the leg stump line. Brook makes room and whips it nonchalanty over the long leg boundary for half a dozen.

Neesham goes full, angling just past the leg pole. Brook gets across to play the scoop but falls over and fails to connect.

SIX! STAND AND DELIVER! Good-length delivery, at the stumps. Harry Brook makes space and lofts it cleanly over the long off boundary for half a dozen.

Floated full, on the middle. Brook shimmies down and hits it toward wide long on for a run. 50 comes up for England at the end of the 7th over.

Slower through the air, and outside off. Buttler cuts it to deep cover for a single.

Flatter arm ball, on the middle. Brook tucks it through mid-wicket and settles for one.

Flatter and just outside off. Buttler makes room and knocks it through cover-point for a single.

Flighted full, on the middle and leg. Buttler nudges it in the gap at mid-wicket, takes a couple.

Tossed up delivery on off. Buttler prods and defends into the short cover region.

Slower ball on a fullish length, on the leg. Buttler clips it to deep square leg for one.

Pace off delivery on the full, on the middle and leg. Brook flicks it to mid-wicket for a single.

Short of a good length and follows the batter, outside the leg stump. Harry Brook makes room and defends it back to the bowler.

Slower, dipping low full toss on the leg pole. Jos Buttler makes room and bunts it toward mid off for a single.

FOUR MORE! Cheeky and Effective! Short of a good length, on the middle. Jos Buttler shuffles across and scoops it over the keeper to fine leg for a clever boundary.

FOUR! Jamieson is greeted in style! Bowls it on a length, on the leg stump line. Jos Buttler comes forward and clips it toward the deep mid-wicket region, one bounce and over the ropes.

FOUR! PUT AWAY! Brook spoils the over for Henry! Good length delivery on off. Harry Brook picks it early and whacks it to the left of the deep square leg fielder for a boundary to get off the mark.

Pitched full, on off. Harry Brook gets on the front foot and drives toward mid off.

Three dots in a row! Back of a length delivery, around the hip. Harry Brook looks to tuck and misses, it lobs off the thigh pad and falls into the leg side.

Lands it on a length, and nips past the leg stump line. Harry Brook advances to flay through covers but is beaten by the inward movement.

A loud appeal, but the umpire turns it down. Henry bowls a full-length delivery, on the middle and leg stump line, shaping in a bit. Harry Brook looks to flick it across the line, but misses and gets pinned in front. New Zealand takes the review. The Ball Tracking shows it as wickets missing and Brook stays on. New Zealand lose their review.

OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! Matt Henry strikes! Bowls it short, around off. Jacob Bethell looks to take on the pull but miscues it straight up in the air. Henry settles under it and takes a simple catch. Bethell departs for a scratchy 15. England lose their second.

Slower full ball on the middle. Jacob Bethell eases it toward mid on for a single.

FOUR! BELTED! Short of a good length, around off. Jacob Bethell picks it early and dispatches the pull toward the deep mid-wicket region for four runs.

SIX! Bethell breaks the shackles! Fuller in length, on off. Jacob Bethell shimmies down the pitch and launches it over the long off fence for a biggie.

Back-of-a-length delivery again, angling across the batter. Jacob Bethell throws his hand to cut but does not connect.

Back of a length delivery, around off. Jacob Bethell miscues the pull toward the cow-corner region for a brace.

Hard length delivery, on the middle and leg stump line. Jos Buttler tucks this to deep square leg for a single.

WIDE! Duffy loses his radar! Bowls it on a hard length, angling down the leg. Jos Buttler lets it go. Wide to start the over.

Bethell finally gets off the mark. Back of a length delivery, around the hip. Jacob Bethell tucks this through the backward square leg region and takes a couple.

Back of a length delivery now, outside off. Jacob Bethell shimmies down and looks to cut but does not connect. Six dots now for Bethell.

Fuller than a good length, around off. Jacob Bethell drives it on the up toward the man at mid-off.

Short of a good length, nips away, around off. Jacob Bethell has a poke at it and gets beaten.

Fuller than a good length, shapes away after pitching. Jacob Bethell looks to drive on the up but is beaten by the movement.

Back of a length on off. Jos Buttler tucks it through backward square leg for a single.

Duffy bowls it fuller than a good length and pushes it well across the batter. Bethell looks to drive but misses. A successful over for Jacob Duffy.

Skiddy length ball, around off. Jacob Bethell looks to cut but it comes off the outside edge and rolls to the man at short third.

OUT! CAUGHT! Jacob Duffy draws first blood! Bowls it back of a length, hard into the pitch, and gets it to move a touch, around off. Phil Salt tries to force the pull through the leg side but gets the outside edge that flies toward deep third. Mark Chapman comes in from the boundary and takes a good low catch diving forward. England are rocked early.

Short of a good length, angled into the middle and leg. Phil Salt pulls it through the square leg region and takes a couple.

Lands it on a length, on off. Jos Buttler advances down the pitch and hits on the bounce toward wide mid-off for a single.

Pitched full, just outside off, and shapes away after pitching. Jos Buttler falls over to flick through the leg side but is beaten by the late swing.

Henry bowls it on a good length and gets it to nip back in, just outside off. Phil Salt flays and misses. End of an eventful first over.

Lands it on a length, on off. Jos Buttler taps it toward the point fielder and calls for a run. Tim Robinson collects and has a shy at the sticks. Since there was no one backing up, the batters take the single with ease.

BEATEN! Bowls it on a good length, swings away, around off. Jos Buttler looks to drive but is beaten on the outside edge.

SIX! ALL THE WAY! Jos Buttler is up and running! On a length, on off. Jos Buttler goes through with the shot and heaves it over the deep mid-wicket fence for the first biggie of the game.

Back of a length delivery, angling down the leg. Jos Buttler shuffles in the crease to tuck it through the leg side but misses.

In the air but safe! Matt Henry gets some movement straightaway! Bowls it on a good length, swings away a tad around off. Phil Salt looks to work it through the on-side, gets a leading edge that flies over backward point fielder for a single.