The Sri Lanka vs New Zealand ODI 2024 series will start in Dambulla on Wednesday, November 13.

As per the Sri Lanka vs New Zealand ODI 2024 schedule, the first game of the three-match series will be played at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium.

The second and third ODI will be played at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on November 17 and 19.

New Zealand are currently ranked fifth in the ICC ODI team rankings while Sri Lanka are placed one spot below on sixth.

Led by Charith Asalanka, the Sri Lanka national cricket team will look to return to winning ways after losing the second T20I against New Zealand by five runs in a low-scoring thriller in Dambulla on Sunday.

Earlier, Sri Lanka won the opening T20I by four wickets as the two-match T20I series ended 1-1.

Wicketkeeper-batter Kusal Perera and seamer Mohamed Shiraz have made a comeback to Sri Lanka’s ODI squad for the New Zealand series.

Meanwhile, Chamindu Wickramasinghe has retained his place in the Sri Lanka’s ODI squad.

On the other hand, the New Zealand national cricket team will once again be led by Mitchell Santner.

Wicketkeeper-batter Mitch Hay and all-rounder Nathan Smith have earned maiden call-ups to New Zealand’s 15-man squad.

Sri Lanka’s Pathum Nissanka was the leading run-scorer in the recently-concluded T20I series with 71 runs while Will Young (49) accumulated the most runs for the Kiwis.

In the bowling department, Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga (5) bagged the most wickets while Glenn Phillips and Zakary Foulkes picked up four wickets each for New Zealand in the two-match T20I series.

Sri Lanka vs New Zealand ODI head-to-head

The Sri Lanka vs New Zealand ODI head-to-head record favours the latter. New Zealand have won 52 of the 102 ODIs that they have played against Sri Lanka so far. Sri Lanka have registered 41 victories so far. As many as eight matches ended in no results while one ODI was tied.

The last time these two sides met, New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by five wickets in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 league match in Bengaluru in November last year.

Where to watch Sri Lanka vs New Zealand ODI 2024 live in India

The Sri Lanka vs New Zealand ODI 2024 series will be telecast live on Sony Sports Ten 5 and Sony Sports Ten 5 HD TV channels in India.

Live streaming of the Sri Lanka vs New Zealand ODIs 2024 will be available on the SonyLIV app and website. It will also be live streamed on the FanCode app and website in India.

Sri Lanka vs New Zealand ODI 2024 schedule and live match start times

All match times are in India Standard Time (IST)

Day and Date	Match	Venue	Time (IST)
Wednesday, November 13	Sri Lanka vs New Zealand, 1st ODI	Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla	2:30 PM
Sunday, November 17	Afghanistan vs South Africa, 2nd ODI	Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele	2:30 PM
Tuesday, November 19	Afghanistan vs South Africa, 3rd ODI	Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele	2:30 PM

Sri Lanka vs New Zealand ODI 2024 squads

Sri Lanka ODI squad: Charith Asalanka (captain), Avishka Fernando, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Janith Perera, Kusal Mendis (wicket-keeper), Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Sadeera Samarawickrama (wicket-keeper), Nishan Madushka (wicket-keeper), Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Chamidu Wickramasinghe, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Mohamed Shiraz

New Zealand ODI squad: Mitchell Santner (captain), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Zak Foulkes, Dean Foxcroft, Mitch Hay (wicket-keeper), Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Tim Robinson, Nathan Smith, Ish Sodhi, Will Young

Photo credit: Imago

Sabina Park, Kingston is a picturesque cricket ground located in Jamaica.

Established in 1895, the Sabina Park, Kingston was one of the hardest and fastest pitches in the Caribbean for several years. In recent years, Sabina Park has slowed down even after attempts were made to restore life by relaying it on more than one occasion.

It is the home of the Kingston Cricket Club and the West Indies cricket team at international level.

Sabina Park has a spectacular backdrop with the Blue Mountains to the north, facing the George Headley Stand, with Kingston Harbour to the south. This beautiful view is currently blocked by the Northern Stand, built as part of the ground's redevelopment for the 2007 Cricket World Cup.

It staged its first international cricket match, a Test played between hosts West Indies and England in April 1930. The Test match ended in a draw.

In April 1984, Sabina Park later hosted its first One-Day International (ODI) between West Indies and Australia. Led by Viv Richards, the hosts won the ODI by nine wickets. 

After almost three decades in 2014, Sabina Park staged its first T20 international played between West Indies and Ireland. The Carlos Brathwaite-led West Indies won the game by six wickets.

Since then, it has hosted six T20 internationals so far. Let’s have a look at Sabina Park, Kingston T20 records and stats:

Sabina Park, Kingston T20 records and stats

Highest total

The New Zealand cricket team holds the record for the highest total at the Sabina Park, Kingston in T20 international cricket. During the second T20I of New Zealand’s tour of the West Indies in August 2022, the Kane Williamson-led visitors posted 215/5 in their 20 overs. Electing to bat first, New Zealand rode on Glenn Phillips�?76 off 41 balls 

along with contributions from Daryl Mitchell (48) and Devon Conway (42) to post a record T20 total at the venue. In reply, West Indies could only manage 125/9 in their allotted overs as New Zealand won the game by 90 runs. The visitors clinched the three-match T20I series 2-1 in Kingston. 

Lowest total

The Ireland cricket team registered the lowest total at the Sabina Park, Kingston in the T20 format. Ireland were restricted to 85/8 in their 20 overs while chasing West Indies�?96/9 in a low-scoring encounter in Kingston in February 2014. Chasing 97, Ireland lost wickets at regular intervals as they fell short by 11 runs. Wicketkeeper-batter Gary Wilson top-scored for Ireland with 35. For West Indies, captain Daren Sammy was the wrecker-in-chief with three wickets for just 22 runs in his quota of four overs. With the win, West Indies levelled the two-match T20I series 1-1.

Most runs

New Zealand cricketer Glenn Phillips has the most runs at the venue in T20 international cricket. The swashbuckling right-handed batter has scored 134 runs in three T20I matches at an average of 44.66 and a strike rate of 171.79. He has also slammed one T20I fifty at this venue. West Indies opening batter Evin Lewis features second on the list with 125 runs in a solitary knock that he played at this ground against India in 2017.

Most wickets

West Indies bowling all-rounder Odean Smith has picked up the most wickets at this cricket ground in the T20I format. The right-arm medium pacer bagged seven wickets in three T20I matches at an average of 13 and an economy of 8.27. Odean Smith has a best T20I bowling figures of 3/29 against New Zealand at this venue in 2022. Ireland’s Alex Cusack and New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner share the second spot with six scalps each.

Highest individual score

Flamboyant West Indies cricketer Evin Lewis holds the record for the highest individual score at the Sabina Park, Kingston in T20 international cricket. Opening the batting, Evin Lewis slammed an unbeaten 125-run knock off just 62 balls against India in the only T20I of the series in July 2017. His blitzkrieg knock was laced with six fours and 12 maximums to help West Indies chase down India’s 190/6 in 18.3 overs. Evin Lewis�?scintillating knock guided the hosts to a nine-wicket win in Kingston.

Best bowling figures

Former Ireland cricketer Alex Cusack registered the best bowling figures at this venue in the T20 format. The right-arm pacer registered impressive figures of 4-1-11-4 against hosts West Indies in the second T20I in February 2014. Alex Cusack dismissed Dwayne Smith, Andre Fletcher, wicketkeeper-batter Denesh Ramdin and Samuel Badree to restrict West Indies to 96/9 in their 20 overs. Despite Cusack’s brilliant spell, Ireland lost the game by 11 runs.

Highest partnership

West Indies duo Evin Lewis and Marlon Samuels hold the record for the highest partnership at the Sabina Park, Kingston in T20I cricket. Evin Lewis and Marlon Samuels stitched an unbeaten 112-run partnership for the second wicket against India in a T20I in 2017. Chasing 191, Lewis scored 125 not out while Samuels remained unbeaten on 36 to help West Indies chase down the target in 18.3 overs and secure a dominating nine-wicket victory in Kingston.

Photo credit: Alamy

The New Zealand vs Australia T20 2024 cricket series will start at the Sky Stadium in Wellington on Wednesday, February 21.

After the opening T20I in Wellington, the two sides will travel to Auckland to play the remaining two games to be hosted at Eden Park on February 23 and 25. 

The upcoming three-match T20I series between the two finalists of T20 World Cup 2021 is now part of the Chappell-Hadlee trophy as per the latest development. 

Earlier, the Chappell-Hadlee trophy was awarded to the winner of the bilateral ODI series between Australia and New Zealand. 

Now, the T20Is between the trans-Tasman rivals have been added to the series and a point structure will be made for both T20I and ODI series to determine the winner. 

Meanwhile, the New Zealand national cricket team has announced their 14-man T20I squad to be led by Mitchell Santner. 

Star pacer Trent Boult has returned to the T20I squad for the first time since November 2022. Boult has been added for the second and third T20Is. He will replace veteran fast bowler Tim Southee, who will play only the first T20I in order to manage his workload.

Uncapped all-rounder Josh Clarkson has also been included in the T20I squad.

The Kiwis will miss the services of former captain Kane Williamson, who is on paternity leave. The hosts will also be without Daryl Mitchell due to injury.

On the other hand, the Australia national cricket team will head into the series after registering a 2-1 win over West Indies in the recently-concluded three-match T20I series at home.

Ranked fourth in the ICC Men’s T20I rankings, Australia will be led by star all-rounder Mitchell Marsh.

The likes of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Steve Smith, Travis Head and Josh Hazlewood have returned to the squad after being rested in the T20I series against West Indies. Fast bowler Nathan Ellis has also been added after he recovered from a rib injury. 

New Zealand, on the other hand, are ranked second in the ICC Men��s T20I rankings and they will head into this contest after a 4-1 triumph over Pakistan in their previous T20 series.

Since the inception of the Chappell-Hadlee trophy in December 2004, Australia have clinched it on seven occasions while New Zealand have won it four times.

New Zealand vs Australia head-to-head in T20 cricket

Australia have a superior head-to-head record against New Zealand in T20 cricket, winning 10 of the 16 matches that they have played so far. New Zealand have registered six victories so far.

The last time these two sides met in the shortest format, New Zealand beat Australia by 89 runs in an ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 clash in Sydney.

Where to watch New Zealand vs Australia T20 2024 series live in India

Live streaming of the New Zealand vs Australia T20 2024 series will be available on Amazon Prime Video in India.

There will be no live telecast of the NZ vs AUS T20Is on any TV channel in India.

New Zealand vs Australia T20 2024 schedule and live match start times

All match times are in India Standard Time (IST)

Day and Date	Match	Venue	Time (IST)
Wednesday,  February 21	New Zealand vs Australia, 1st T20I	Sky Stadium, Wellington	11:40 AM
Friday, February 23	New Zealand vs Australia, 2nd T20I	Eden Park, Auckland	12:40 PM
Sunday, February 25	New Zealand vs Australia, 3rd T20I	Eden Park, Auckland	6:30 AM

New Zealand vs Australia T20 2024 squads

New Zealand T20 squad: Mitchell Santner (captain), Finn Allen, Trent Boult (matches 2 & 3), Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Devon Conway (wicketkeeper), Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Adam Milne, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert (wicketkeeper), Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee (Match 1)

Australia T20 squad: Mitchell Marsh (captain), Pat Cummins, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wicketkeeper), Spencer Johnson, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade (wicketkeeper), David Warner, Adam Zampa

Photo credit: Alamy

After clinching both the ODI and T20I series in Ireland, the New Zealand cricket team will take on hosts Scotland in a short white-ball series featuring two T20Is and a one-off ODI starting from Wednesday, July 27.

Led by Mitchell Santner, New Zealand will be high on confidence after they whitewashed Ireland 3-0 in the three-match T20I series. Earlier, the Kiwis thrashed the Irish side 3-0 in the three-match ODI series under captain Tom Latham.

However as far as the Scotland tour is concerned, New Zealand will continue to miss the services of some of their star players including captain Kane Williamson, Devon Conway, Tim Southee and Trent Boult, who are expected to return for the white-ball series in the Caribbean in August.

On the other hand, former Scotland captain Kyle Coetzer announced his retirement from the T20I format but will be available for the one-off ODI against the Black Caps.

Under captain Richie Berrington, the Scotland cricket team will look to put up a strong fight against an in-form New Zealand side.

Craig Wallace, Michael Jones and Ollie Hairs are some of the notable inclusions in Scotland’s 18-man squad for the short limited-overs series.

All matches of Scotland vs New Zealand white-ball series will be played at the Grange Cricket Club in Edinburgh.

New Zealand vs Scotland head-to-head

T20I head-to-head record

New Zealand have an edge over Scotland in the T20I head-to-head record, winning both the T20I matches that the two teams have contested so far. 

The last time these two sides met, the Kiwis secured a 16-run win in the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup at the Dubai International Stadium.

Prior to that, New Zealand thrashed Scotland by seven wickets in an ICC T20 World Cup group match at the Oval in 2009.

ODI head-to-head record

In the ODI format, the BlackCaps have won all their three matches against Scotland so far.

New Zealand tour of Scotland 2022 squads

Scotland: Richie Berrington (captain), Matthew Cross (wicket-keeper), Kyle Coetzer (Only ODI), Ali Evans, Chris Greaves, Oliver Hairs, Michael Jones, Michael Leask, Calum MacLeod, Gavin Main, Chris McBride, George Munsey, Adrian Neill, Safyaan Sharif, Chris Sole, Hamza Tahir, Craig Wallace, Mark Watt

New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (captain), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Dane Cleaver, Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips (wicket-keeper), Michael Rippon, Ben Sears, Ish Sodhi, Blair Tickner

New Zealand tour of Scotland 2022 schedule and live India match times

All times are in India Standard Time (IST)

Day and Date	Match	Time (IST)	Venue
Wednesday, July 27	Scotland vs New Zealand, 1st T20I	7:30 PM IST	Grange Cricket Club, Edinburgh
Friday, July 29	Scotland vs New Zealand, 2nd T20I	7:30 PM IST	Grange Cricket Club, Edinburgh
Sunday, July 31	Scotland vs New Zealand, Only ODI	3:30 PM IST	Grange Cricket Club, Edinburgh

Where to watch the New Zealand tour of Scotland 2022 live in India?  

Live streaming of the New Zealand tour of Scotland 2022 cricket series will be available on the FanCode app and website.

There will be no live telecast of the Scotland vs New Zealand limited-overs series on any TV channel in India.

SportsAdda will bring you the New Zealand tour of Scotland 2022 live scores.

Play fantasy cricket with SportsAdda. Create your team, track your progress and win prizes. Start here.

Follow us on Telegram for the latest updates from the world of sports!

Interested in cricket betting? Click here to check out the list of top sites

Featured photo: Aamir QURESHI / AFP

13 years ago, one queer spell in the death overs of the inaugural T20 World Cup final won India the crown. Joginder Sharma perhaps defined why T20 qualifies as a completely different ball game on that day. Since then, we have seen some outrageous spells in T20 World Cups.

Here's a look at three of the best.

Ajantha Mendis - 6/8 vs Zimbabwe (2012)

Ajantha Mendis bettered his own record to register the best ever T20I figures in the 2012 T20 World Cup game against Zimbabwe. The Sri Lankan mystery spinner had 183 runs to defend and wrecked Zimbabwe with a rip-roaring spell of six-for-eight.

Read | Four match-winning ODI spells in World Cups

Mendis broke the opening stand in the last over of powerplay and sent back Brendan Taylor on the next ball to take his second wicket. By the end of the 11th over, he had three more. The sixth was completed as he dismissed Elton Chigumbura as Zimbabwe lost all of their first six wickets to deadly Mendis. 

Mustafizur Rahman - 5/22 vs New Zealand (2016)

The 2016 World Cup in India saw some exciting spells from pacers and spinners alike. At Kolkata, Mustafizur Rahman gave Bangladesh a fighting chance as he snared a five-for-22 to bowl New Zealand out for 145. Mustafizur dismissed Henry Nicholls and Kane Williamson, the first two wickets to fall, and later returned to clean up New Zealand's lower middle-order and finish with a five-wicket haul.

However, Bangladesh messed up the run-chase and were bowled out for 70 in pursuit of the target.

Mitchell Santner - 4/11 vs India (2016)

The opening game of the 2016 T20 World Cup was a humdinger between India and New Zealand at Nagpur. With just 126 on board, the Kiwis seemed well on course for a heavy defeat.

Read | Top three outstanding Test knocks by Steve Smith

However, on a slow Nagpur track, Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi spun a web around the Indians. Santner sent back Rohit Sharma and Suresh Raina in the same over (the third over of the innings) to cripple India's start. Later as Hardik Pandya and MS Dhoni looked to resurrect the innings, the left-arm spinner sent back Pandya. He later dismissed Dhoni too to finish with spectacular figures of 4 for 11 in his spell.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Money Sharma

Chennai have a rather settled outfit and believe in consistency in selection. They have a core group of players they built over the years and have relied on them to reap benefits. The history of making it to the playoffs every year is a result of the constant backing they give their set players. That said, here are a few players on the bench the MS Dhoni-led side should use more in the starting XI.

Murali Vijay

The Tamil Nadu opener, Murali Vijay, has 2587 runs in the Indian T20 League in 103 matches at an average of 26.4 and a strike rate of 122.83. He came back to the Chennai setup in 2016 after a brief stint with Punjab and has been a reliable opener in the early editions of the league. He even has two big hundreds in big matches for Chennai. That said, his chances since returning to the Chennai fold have been few and far between. With Ambati Rayudu no longer that reliable, Chennai might want to give Vijay more games.

Read | Four players RCB shouldn't have released from their ranks

Mitchell Santner

The New Zealand all-rounder has played quite a few good cameos and revelled in the role of a holding spinner for Chennai. Having Ravindra Jadeja in the ranks has stopped Chennai from using Santner in too many matches in the Indian T20 League. Santner, though, is a fine T20 spinner and a handy powerplay bowler. A nerveless finisher with the bat too, he can be quite a handful on spinning decks and seaming decks alike. It is perhaps time for Chennai to invest more games on the Kiwi all-rounder. 

Read | Was opening with Sunil Narine a successful move for Kolkata?

Ruturaj Gaikwad

The 22-year old Maharashtra opener was picked up in the 2019 Indian T20 League auction by Chennai after his exploits in the Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament, where he topped the run charts. However, he remained on the bench right through the season and never got a game. In 28 T20s, Gaikwad has 843 runs at an average of 33.72 and a strike rate of 135.31 with six half-centuries. An enforcer at the top of the order, it is a surprise that Chennai did not give him any game in 2019. 

Read | Who are the most unsuccessful captains in Indian T20 League?

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Roger Sedres

England lost three wickets to Mitchell Santner on the fourth day of the first Test match at Mount Maunganui as New Zealand extended their advantage over the Poms. A spinner taking the first three wickets in a Test innings is nothing new. But in New Zealand, it is a remarkable feat. Let's see why.

In the first innings as New Zealand bowled out England for 335, all 10 wickets to fall were taken by the quicker bowlers. Incidentally, it was the eleventh successive time in Tests in New Zealand that a New Zealand spinner had failed to take a single wicket.

In this same time frame, New Zealand's pacers have totalled a whopping 101 wickets. Just gauge the extent of that - 101 wickets to pace and zero to spin.

Trent Boult - 31 wickets

Tim Southee - 31 wickets

Neil Wagner - 27 wickets

Colin de Grandhomme - 10 wickets

Matt Henry - 2 wickets

These were the pacers to take wickets for New Zealand in a period dating back to March 2018.

In this same time frame, the New Zealand spinners bowled 93.5 overs for 268 runs without taking a single wicket. Following is the split of overs by New Zealand spinners in this time frame:

Ajaz Patel - 43 overs

Todd Astle - 20 overs

Ish Sodhi - 16 overs

Mitchell Santner - 11.5 overs

Kane Williamson - 2 overs

Jeet Raval - 1 over

Until Santner picked up the wicket of Dominic Sibley in the 22nd over of the innings and Santner's sixth, New Zealand's last wicket by a spinner was when Todd Astle dismissed James Anderson in a win at Auckland last year.

It took 608 days from then to Santner's wicket on Sunday for New Zealand spinners to break their drought at home. While pitches in New Zealand have been known to be conducive to pace, the fact that a home spinner hadn't taken a single wicket in nearly one and a half years is a shocking revelation.

Mitchell Santner, who scored a hundred in New Zealand's batting innings, then went on to claim two more wickets in the day as all three England wickets to fall in the second innings went to a spinner. The phrase "when it rains, it pours" was brought to life by Santner as he ran through the top-order, dismissing Sibley, Burns and nightwatchman, Jack Leach, to finish with 3/6 in the day. 

Feature image courtesy: AFP / David Gray

The safe hands of Colin de Grandhomme proved crucial as New Zealand drew level with England 1-1 in their Twenty20 international series in Wellington on Sunday.

While de Grandhomme was pouching all four skied balls that went his way, England were left to rue an uncomfortable day in the field with six spilled chances including three by James Vince.

New Zealand, who suffered a seven-wicket loss in the first match on Friday, were sent in to bat first and made their most of the errant fielding to post 176 for eight.

Martin Guptill at the top of the innings clouted 41 off 28 deliveries, while Jimmy Neesham belted 42 off 22, including four sixes, before he was removed on the final ball of the innings.

De Grandhomme also pushed the pace, facing only 12 balls for a whirlwind 28.

England in reply looked comfortable at 91 for four in the 11th over before New Zealand removed the remaining six wickets to end the innings with a ball to spare.

Mitchell Santner claimed three for 25 while Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson and Ish Sodhi took two wickets apiece.

England captain Eoin Morgan said it was easy to analyse the reasons for the loss, and the issues were repairable.

"We dropped catches and we continued to lose wickets," he said.

"We need to keep the attacking positive mindset. I think it's important to make mistakes, but I think the most important part is to learn from them."

After England lost Johnny Bairstow first ball, and Vince in the second over, Morgan (32) and Dawid Malan (39) set about rebuilding the innings.

But when Morgan gave de Grandhomme his first catch, the wickets fell regularly with only Chris Jordan (36 off 19) providing any solid resistance at the lower part of the batting order.

Malan fell to an exceptional diving catch by Guptill who also accounted for the wicket of Jordan in a polished New Zealand fielding performance.

Game three in the series is in Nelson on Tuesday.

Feature image courtesy: AFP/ Marty Melville

A maiden half century from James Vince powered England to a convincing seven-wicket victory over New Zealand in the opening Twenty20 international in Christchurch on Friday.

Vince top-scored for the tourists with 59 as England chased down New Zealand's 154-run target in 18.3 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

While Vince's man-of-the-match performance caught the eye, captain Eoin Morgan was also full of praise for his bowlers, who laid the platform for victory by restricting the Black Caps to 153 for five.

"The game was won and lost in the first innings... James Vince played outstanding well but all credit to the bowlers today," he said.

A three-wicket haul from spinner Mitchell Santner was not enough to rescue the Black Caps, whose batting line-up failed to fire after Morgan won the toss and sent them in.

England's win came despite the absence of several senior players, who have been rested for the series after a gruelling period that saw them win the World Cup and fail to reclaim the Ashes.

A trio of debutants in the team facing New Zealand fitted in seamlessly, with Sam Curran and Pat Brown both snaring a wicket each.

All-rounder Lewis Gregory was not needed with either bat or ball and will hope to make an impression when hostilities resume in Wellington on Sunday.

Morgan said his squad was building its depth by blooding youngsters ahead of the T20 World Cup in Australia next year.

"It's a chance for them to stake their claim," said the England captain, who emphatically ended the match with a six off the final ball to finish on 34 not out.

'A bit off'

New Zealand's regular captain Kane Williamson is out of the series with a hip injury and the Black Caps sorely missed his batting prowess.

Stand-in skipper Tim Southee said there was room for improvement in bowling, batting and fielding.

"We were probably a little bit off in all three areas," he said.

"We got a score on the board that we felt we could defend but we were a little bit off with the ball and in the field, which didn't help."

The poor form that dogged Martin Guptill at the World Cup continued when Curran coaxed an inside edge that crashed into middle stump.

Fellow opener Colin Munro tried to break the shackles but was too aggressive against Chris Jordan and was caught on the boundary for 21.

In reply, Jonny Bairstow made a positive start for England and it took a spectacular catch from Guptill for dismiss him for 35. 

Santner and fellow spinner Ish Sodhi had some success pegging back England's run rate before Vince and Morgan combined for a 54-run partnership that proved decisive.

It is the first time the sides have met since the one-day World Cup final in July, which ended with scores tied but England claiming victory because they had scored more boundaries.

However, both teams insist their focus for the series is on preparing for next year's T20 World Cup.

England are ranked second in the world in T20s behind Pakistan, while New Zealand are sixth.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Marty Melville

Mitchell Santner said New Zealand could not afford to take "dangerous" Pakistan lightly as they attempt to seal their place in the World Cup semi-finals in Birmingham on Wednesday.

Unbeaten New Zealand have 11 points from five victories and a rained-off game while Pakistan must win to keep alive their chances of qualifying for the last four

"Obviously, they've had a pretty good record over here," said the spinning all-rounder on the eve of the match at Edgbaston.

"They won the Champions Trophy a couple of years ago and they've come off a pretty good win against South Africa."

"We're at the top at the moment (before the England v Australia result), but we can't take any games lightly."

Santner praised Pakistan's varied bowling attack.

"Their bowling attack on the whole is very good. They've got some very good seam bowlers as well as spin bowlers. We're aware of their strengths, and I think Wahab (Riaz) back into their team is very good for them."

"(Mohammad) Amir is bowling very well as well," added Santner of the left-arm paceman, who has 15 wickets in five matches.

Santner said Pakistan, who have lost three matches at the World Cup so far, had the ability to raise their game despite their troubles.

"They took down England and took down South Africa the other day," he said. "When they're hot, they're really hot. We have to, obviously, find ways of trying to cool them down when they're like that."

The left-handed batsman said skipper Kane Williamson was key to New Zealand's batting strength.

"He's coming off two tons, and the one against South Africa the other night was pretty special," he said. "It didn't look, I guess, as fluid, his innings, but that's what made it so good."

Feature image courtesy: Twitter/ @BLACKCAPS