New Zealand outplayed England as they won the third Twenty20 international at Edgbaston on Sunday by a commanding 74 runs to maintain their hopes of a shared series. Finn Allen made 83 and Glenn Phillips 69 in New Zealand's 202-5.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Recalled paceman Kyle Jamieson (3-23) and spinner Ish Sodhi (3-33) then did the bulk of the damage, with New Zealand captain Tim Southee (2-30) also in the wickets, as England collapsed to 128 all out inside 19 overs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
There were only four double-figure scores in the T20 world champions' innings, England captain Jos Buttler top-scoring with 40 and Moeen Ali making 26.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
- 'Class' -
\r\n"We asked for a better performance in all three areas (batting, bowling and fielding) and that was the kind of performance you expect to see when we play," Southee told the BBC.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Finn showed his class today and Glenn has been outstanding for us for a long time, especially on tricky surfaces. He made it look like a completely different surface to everyone else.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"So we got a decent score and then with the ball we were more clinical and also had the advantage of having 20 overs watching England bowl."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Buttler added: "Credit to New Zealand, they outplayed us. It was a good toss (for New Zealand) to win, we let them get too many. We couldn't break that Allen-Phillips partnership and they just took the game away.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Chasing that kind of score we needed a fast start and a good powerplay and we didn't get any partnerships going."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Allen, who played for Southern Brave in English domestic cricket's the Hundred, struck leg-spinner Adil Rashid for three consecutive sixes and the opener received good support from Phillips during a stand of 88 for the third wicket.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Gus Atkinson, fresh from impressing with four wickets on his T20 debut during a 95-run win at Old Trafford on Friday, was the pick of England's attack with 2-31.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But spinner Liam Livingstone was smashed for 55 in four overs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Earlier, the highlights of opener Allen's 53-ball innings came during a 15th over where he launched the experienced Rashid for three consecutive sixes -- a drive over deep extra cover, a legside slog and a lofted shot down the ground.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He was in sight of a second T20 century when bowled by Luke Wood's inswinging yorker.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Atkinson took two wickets in the 19th over, bowling Phillips with a slower ball before removing Daryl Mitchell.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Jamieson then dismissed for Will Jacks for 11, with Southee removing Dawid Malan for a laboured two off 11 balls.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The in-form Harry Brook, controversially omitted from defending champions England's preliminary squad for the 50-over World Cup, got off the mark with a four but fell for eight when he holed out off Sodhi, who had already dismissed Jonny Bairstow.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
England were now 55-4 and Buttler's 21-ball knock ended when he was caught and bowled by spinner Mitchell Santner.<\/p>\r\n\r\n