England beat New Zealand by 65 runs in 2nd T20I:Phil Salt scores half-century, Adil Rashid bags four wickets; Harry Brook awarded POTM

England produced a stunning all-round performance to defeat New Zealand by 65 runs, taking full control of the contest from start to finish. The visitors first set the stage with a massive batting effort, led by the explosive duo of Harry Brook and Phil Salt, before their bowlers sealed the deal with a clinical performance. Adil Rashid’s brilliant four-wicket haul and Brook’s attacking half-century were the highlights of a commanding display that left the home crowd disappointed. Batting first, England posted a towering total of 236 for 4, thanks to some brilliant stroke play from their top and middle order. Even though captain Jos Buttler was dismissed early, Phil Salt steadied the innings with Jacob Bethell, building a strong platform for the power-hitters to follow. Once Bethell was out, Harry Brook took charge of the innings with an explosive 78, finding boundaries with ease and keeping the scoreboard ticking at a rapid pace. Tom Banton added a quick 29-run cameo at the end, helping England finish with a commanding score. Harry Brook was rightly named Player of the Match for his explosive innings and overall contribution. Speaking after the win, Brook expressed delight at his partnership with Phil Salt and praised the team’s collective effort. England’s victory showcased their depth, balance, and confidence as they continued their impressive run of form. Also read: ‘How many all-rounders do we want?’: Ashwin slams Kuldeep Yadav’s exclusion from playing XI; Gavaskar defends Rohit, Kohli after Perth flop show Brook-Rashid shine bright for England Chasing a daunting target of 237, New Zealand’s innings got off to a poor start. The hosts lost two early wickets for just 18 runs, putting immediate pressure on their middle order. Tim Seifert and Mark Chapman tried to steady things with a solid 69-run partnership for the third wicket, but once that stand was broken, the innings collapsed rapidly. James Neesham and Mitchell Santner provided some late entertainment with a few well-timed boundaries, but their efforts were never enough to bring New Zealand back into the game. The required rate kept climbing, and the Kiwis eventually fell well short of the target. Also read: MS Dhoni celebrates Diwali with wife Sakshi and family: CSK, Mumbai Indians post wishes; LSG light up Ekana Stadium with lamps All 10 New Zealand wickets have fallen to catches In a rare occurrence, all ten New Zealand wickets fell to catches, with none coming through bowled, lbw, or run-outs. The Kiwi batters struggled to find gaps, repeatedly gifting catching opportunities to the sharp English fielders, which summed up their difficult outing. Adil Rashid was once again the standout performer for England, claiming four vital wickets with his clever flight and variations. The rest of the bowling unit backed him up well, with every bowler except Sam Curran chipping in with two wickets each, ensuring a complete and disciplined performance from the visitors.