England in New Zealand: Batting costs tourists again as hosts edge to victory and claim ODI series sweeo

England failed to overcome another grim batting failure as New Zealand edged to a two-wicket victory in the third one-day international in Wellington to send the tourists to Australia on the back of a 3-0 series defeat.

England's top order folded once more, bowled out for the third match in a row to continue a worrying trend leading into the Ashes later this month, before New Zealand threatened to botch a chase of 223.

They were cruising at 187-5, needing only 35 from 87 balls, only to lose captain Mitchell Santner for 27 and Daryl Mitchell for 44 in a collapse of 3-8.

That left 27 to get with two wickets remaining but hope of an unlikely, morale-boosting victory for England was snuffed out by an unbroken ninth-wicket partnership between Zak Foulkes and Blair Tickner.

England's bowling effort was admirable - this defeat instead down to their latest top-order collapse, which left them 44-5.

Joe Root was out for two, captain Harry Brook six and Ben Duckett eight and they only cleared 200 thanks to Jamie Overton's 68 - his first ODI fifty.

Seven of this XI now travel to Perth to ramp up their preparation for the highly-anticipated series against Australia, which begins on 21 November.

They play only one warm-up - a three-day match against England Lions - leaving little opportunity for those struggling batters to find form before the series opener.

Brook's 50-over side, meanwhile, have lost 11 of their 15 matches this year and require an upturn in fortunes when they return to action in the new year or else their direct qualification for the 2027 World Cup will come under significant threat.

This tour began with England winning the rain-affected T20 series 1-0, but the batting struggles across the three ODIs have ensured little momentum will be taken on their flight across the Tasman Sea.

This top-order effort followed collapses to 33-5 and 81-5 in the previous two matches.

Winning from those positions was always fanciful. England still look a side unable to find the rhythm of 50-over cricket - or the confidence to come through difficult periods.

Having been unlucky to lose another toss, the batters continued their insistence on being aggressive as the ball zipped around for New Zealand's seamers.

Jamie Smith, another Ashes player in poor form, was almost bowled before nicking a cut behind next ball in the second over for five, before opening partner Duckett hacked a pull to mid-on.

While Root was pinned lbw by a Foulkes inswinger and Brook tentatively ran a ball to slip, Jacob Bethell was another guilty of carelessness as he slashed a cut to the cordon.

England's top four have managed just 84 runs across the series combined - a new and unwanted record low in men's ODI series of at least three matches.

It leaves them bereft of form before the Ashes while these three defeats mean England remain in eighth in the ODI world rankings.

They will likely need to finish in the top nine to secure direct entry to the 2027 World Cup. By the time Brook leads the side next, West Indies will have had the chance to close the gap.

England skipper Harry Brook: "It was an amazing game of cricket there at the back end. For us to nearly defend that score - which probably wasn't enough - was a great effort from the lads.

"[The batting] is one thing we have spoken about. We didn't get big enough totals to defend and give the bowlers the best chance to win us the game. We'll go back and take the learnings from this trip here and try our best to better in the future."

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner: "Different guys stepped up at different times in the chase. But credit to the England bowlers they never made it easy in any of the games, especially on wickets that had a little bit in it. The way Daryl Mitchell controlled it in the middle was outstanding."

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