ENGLAND won another Super Over against New Zealand as history repeated itself with a remarkable twist of fate.
The fifth and final Twenty20 match was tied which meant the players had to go through a six balls-a-side shootout for the second time in less than four months.
This time it wasnt even close as England scored 17-0 and the Kiwis could manage only 8-1.
It meant that an England team made up mainly of novices and youngsters won the series 3-2 – which is a fine start to Chris Silverwoods reign as head coach.
There was not the same nerve-shredding drama as we witnessed at Lords on July 14, but it was incredible that the conclusion of this series should be decided by both teams trying to whack six balls.
Jonny Bairstow and Eoin Morgan struck a six apiece as they scored 17 from Tim Southees over and then Chris Jordan skilfully restricted the Kiwis.
Jofra Archer was one of the Test specialists watching on TV as Jordan, his best mate in cricket, secured the victory. It was Archer who bowled the triumphant Super Over in the final at Lords.
If the Super Over had been tied – as it was at Lords, with England winning because they struck most boundaries in the original match – another one would have been played. The ICC have changed the regulations in the wake of the controversy surrounding Englands success back in the summer.
The main match was reduced to 11 overs-a-side and both sets of bowlers took a pounding at Eden Park, the cathedral of rugby in New Zealand.
The scores were level at 146 apiece and any delivery not going for a boundary was considered a triumph.
There were some brutal figures and none of Englands five bowlers – Sam and Tom Curran, Chris Jordan, Adil Rashid and Saqib Mahmood – conceded runs at fewer than ten-an-over.
It was carnage from the start with Sam Curran going for 17 from the opening over of the match then Tom Curran (20) and Jordan (18) receiving similar treatment as the Kiwis rushed to 55-0 in the three-over power play.
Opener Martin Guptill reached a half-century from just 19 balls and Colin Munro and Tom Seifert also clearly the boundary with regularity.
When England reached 100-3 in the seventh over, they were on course for victory but Bairstow edged behind. Sam Billings and Tom Curran struggled to get going but Jordan came in and struck 12 from the final three balls of the innings to tie the score.
A total of 27 sixes were hit in the match from 22 overs.
