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Stunning Taylor ton levels NZ-England ODIs

New Zealand have won their fourth ODI against England by five wickets to level the five-match series at 2-2, with Ross Taylor scoring a stunning 181.

File image of New Zealand cricketer Ross Taylor in action.
Ross Taylor's stunning 181 has tied up New Zealand's five-match ODI series against England at 2-2. (AAP)

A Ross Taylor century has helped New Zealand to snatch victory from England by five wickets in their fourth ODI and level the five-match series at 2-2.

Taylor struck a career-high unbeaten 181 on Wednesday in Dunedin, building into his innings before shaking off a thigh issue to thump boundary after boundary.

He hit 17 fours and six sixes from just 147 deliveries, appearing near-untouchable as the Kiwis chased down England's 9-335 with three balls left.

The 33-year-old came to the crease in the third over after openers Martin Guptill and Colin Munro both fell for ducks.

At 2-2, the Kiwis were in dire straits, but Taylor and Kane Williamson with 45 steadied the ship with an 84-run stand.

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Favouring the leg side and scoring more than 80 of his runs at square leg and mid-wicket, Taylor battered England's seam and spin bowling, reaching his century and continuing to plug away despite being in clear distress.

By the end of the knock, he could barely run between wickets.

Tom Latham shrugged off some recent poor form to anchor for veteran Taylor, hitting a clinical 71 from 67.

Taylor and Henry Nicholls reached the final over and struck the three runs needed. Nicholls won the match with a six over square leg.

The Black Caps' win sends the two sides into a decider on Saturday in Christchurch.

Batting first, England roared out to 1-267 with 13 overs to spare with Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root notching centuries. But, their middle order collapsed, losing 6-21.

Bairstow walloped 138, while Root played his way to 102.

For the Kiwis, Ish Sodhi took 4-58 from his 10 overs, while Munro and Trent Boult each collected two wickets.

"A lot of credit has to go to the way the guys bowled in the back third of that game, to restrict them to 335," Williamson said.

"Ross, after a tough start, he got himself in and played his best one-day knock, one of the great one-day knocks we've seen in a chasing effort.

"An outstanding performance from him and a great partnership with Tom."


2 min read

Published

Source: AAP


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