New Zealand vs England: Dawid Malan's monstrous six travels out of the stadium

It is the first time that England are facing New Zealand since the controversial final in the ICC World Cup 2019 and the two sides have competed well in the five-match T20I series currently underway in New Zealand. The Three Lions won the first match in Christchurch on November 1 by 7 wickets but the Black Caps made a remarkable comeback on Sunday when they beat England by 21 runs to draw level.

The visitors won the toss and sent NZ to bat just as they did on Friday but this time, the hosts put up a total that proved to be too much for Eoin Morgan’s men. However, amid the disappointing chase by the England batsmen, one high point was the innings from Dawid Malan who hit 39 off just 29 balls in the opening that kept the side in the hunt even as it lost wickets regularly. Malan hit two sixes during his knock one of which was really monstrous.

It was in the 10th over of England’s chase when Malan shuffled across the stumps and hit a length ball bowled by James Neesham for the maximum over the deep square-leg boundary. The ball went over the roof and out of the stadium. Malan hit another six in the very next over when he faced spinner Mitchell Santner but perished in the same over, dashing his team’s hopes. Chris Jordan made a last-ditch effort by belting 36 runs off 19 balls towards the climax but it was still not enough to take England home.

Malan has an average of 144 plus in the T20Is though he hasn’t played many games since making debut in the shortest format in 2017.

Dawid Malan did not hide his disappointment

The left-hand batsman did not hide his disappointment for failing to win the game for England. “Every opportunity is a chance for someone like me. Myself, Vincey [James Vince] and Sam Billings have been around the squad for four years and waited a long time for these opportunities which have been few and far between. For us, when we do get an opportunity, it’s about scoring runs that win games of cricket. That’s why I’m a bit disappointed,” the 32-year-old was quoted as saying by Sky Sports after the game.

The third match of the series will be played in Nelson on November 5.