DAWID MALAN and Eoin Morgan produced an astonishing, record-breaking run spree as England levelled the Twenty20 series against New Zealand.
Malan made 103 not out from just 51 balls while captain Morgan plundered 91 from 41 deliveries as England ransacked the Kiwis attack to the tune of 241-3 in 20 overs.
Batting records were obliterated as Malans scored Englands second and fastest T20 century – beating Alex Hales effort from 60 balls against Sri Lanka in 2014.
Morgans 21-ball fifty was one delivery quicker than Jos Buttlers half-century against the Aussies at Edgbaston last year.
The partnership of 182 for the third wicket between Malan and Morgan removed Englands previous best stand in T20 of 159 between Hales and Ravi Bopara against West Indies at Trent Bridge in 2012.
Last, but by no means least, Englands 241-3 was their biggest total of all-time in T20s, surpassing the 230-8 they made beating the Windies in Mumbai n 2016.
Sure, the square boundaries were short on what is normally a rugby ground but it was still remarkable hitting by the left-handed pair.
And to think England managed just 18-1 in their first four overs.
New Zealand managed just 165 all out as England swept to a 76-run victory. The series is square at 2-2 with the final match in Auckland on Sunday.
Malan, who is leaving Middlesex for Yorkshire, is enjoying a golden tour and now has six half-centuries in nine T20 career internationals for England. It will be hard to leave him out of the squad for next years Twenty20 World Cup in Australia and maybe Joe Root is the man whose place he takes.
Morgans form has also been impressive and he looks totally focused and motivated after deciding to continue as skipper after lifting the 50-over World Cup.
Malan, who scored just 19 runs from his first 18 deliveries, took 28 from the 17th over of the innings delivered by Kiwi leg-spinner Ish Sodhi.
On 51 and 60, Morgan was caught at deep mid-wicket from full tosses – but both were ruled no-balls because they were above waist height.
Earlier, Tom Banton showed a further glimpse of his promise with an innings of 31 from 20 balls before being given out lbw on review attempting a reverse sweep.
The Blackcaps reached 54-0 in the fifth over but, after Martin Guptill chipped to mid-wicket their innings subsided.
Lancashire leggie Matt Parkinson collected two wickets from the final two balls of his opening over and finished with four victims.
With Adil Rashid struggling with a chronic shoulder problem that means he imparts less fizz on the ball than previously, Parkinson could be close to becoming Englands first-choice wrist-spinner in this format.
