England suffered a heavy defeat in their second match at the ICC Cricket World Cup, losing to New Zealand by 8 wickets in Wellington.

The Black Caps made it three wins out of three in the tournament, delivering a ruthless display which saw them claim victory with 226 balls of the match still remaining.

Little went right for his side from the moment that Eoin Morgan had won the toss and elected to bat first. Joe Root top-scored with 46 but it took New Zealand only 32.3 overs to bowl England out for only 123, with Tim Southee doing the bulk of the damage.

The 26-year old delivered a superb display of medium-fast swing bowling that proved to be just too good for the batting side.

He picked up two wickets in his opening burst, before returning to the attack to tear the heart out of the middle and lower order in claiming figures of 7-33, New Zealand’s best in an ODI.

His figures were also the joint third-best ever recorded in a World Cup match.

The modest run chase that followed was achieved with an ease that almost bordered on contempt as Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill brought up a century partnership in only 6.4 overs.

McCullum was clearly in the mood to get the match over swiftly and hammered 77 from only 25 balls, reaching his 50 from 18 deliveries, the quickest in a World Cup tie.

It really was a match to forget for England, although no-one could have forecasted how one-sided the contest was to become.

At around the halfway mark of their innings England were 104-3 with Root and Morgan together and a total of around 260 still possible. A blow down the ground off Daniel Vettori changed all that and cost the captain his wicket, Adam Milne taking a fine diving catch at long on.

From then on, the next 6 wickets were blown away for only 19 runs in 7.2 overs, five of them to the disciplined Southee, who bowled with so much control he seemed to have the white ball going through hoops for him.

James Taylor, who was desperately unfortunate not to register a century in the opening fixture, was unable to get a start this time.

The Nottinghamshire man was undone by an absolute beauty from Southee, a full, swinging yorker that clattered into the base of his stumps.

There wasn’t much resistance after then. Buttler, Woakes, Broad and Finn followed swiftly, having made a total of just 8 runs between them.

Root was last out, having batted for only two hours for his 46. His effort had been noble and prevented complete annihilation.

Wellington’s Westpac Stadium is known locally as ‘The Cake Tin’ and the wags were quick to point out that England had been well and truly baked there.

Having already defeated Sri Lanka and Scotland, the joint-hosts sent out a message to the other contenders that they should be a side to be feared in this tournament by giving a textbook demonstration of how to knock off a small target.

McCullum and Martin Guptill brought up the 50 stand in just 22 balls and there seemed little chance of arresting the pair as they neared the victory target.

Chris Woakes made the eventual breakthrough, bowling McCullum with 105 on the board. The swashbuckling leader of the Kiwis had hit 8 fours and 7 sixes in his brutal knock, one maximum bouncing sweetly off the roof of a parked sponsors’ car.

Such had been the pace of the match, a mid-innings break hadn’t been necessary but then had to be taken in accordance with the regulations. To the dismay of the supporters only 12 more runs were needed when the players trooped off for thirty minutes.

Woakes had the personal satisfaction of a second wicket as he removed Guptill for 22 but Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor quickly finished proceedings.

New Zealand already one foot in the knock-out stages and next face co-hosts Australia, on the 28th February in Auckland.

England can’t afford any more slip-ups if they are to make progress and must get back on track against Scotland, whom they play in Christchurch on Monday.

 

Trent Bridge hosts the fourth Royal London One-Day International between England and New Zealand on Wednesday 17 June. Don't miss the chance to watch England seek redemption against the Kiwis and secure your seat now.