England batter New Zealand to win series

A clinical performance from England secured the ODI series victory in the final game. 

The visitors bowled New Zealand out for 223, before cleaning up the chase with man of the match Jonny Bairstow smashing a 58-ball 100 to lead his team to a seven-wicket win. 

This was Bairstow's 4th ODI century.
Pic credit Getty Images (BBCSport)

Excellent opening spells from  man-of-the-series Chris Woakes (3-32) and Mark Wood (1-26), backed up by the spin twins of Adil Rashid (3-42) and Moeen Ali (1-39), ripped through the Black caps top order, only opener Martin Guptill showing resistance with 47. 

From 93-6 however, Mitchell Santner continued his great form in the series with 67 and Harvey Nicholls an excellent 55 as they lifted their team away from an embarrassing total, to something they had a chance of defending. 

84 they put on for the seventh wicket before Nicholls departedand when Santner was caught well by Alex Hales from the bowling of Chris Woakes, England wrapped up the innings with only an extra ten runs scored. 

Bairstow and Hales did start cautiously however, steadily accumulating from the opening bowlers of Boult, Southee and De Grandomme. 

But the introduction of Ish Sodhi allowed Bairstow to go big. 

Bairstow scored 302 runs at 60.40 in this series.
Pic credit Getty Images (BBC Sport)

He flew along to his 100 in just 58 balls, the third fastest in English ODI history and the fastest by an England opener - the knock including 6 sixes and 9 fours. 

Just three balls later however, he hit his own stumps attempting a late cut shot to be out for 104, ending the opening partnership on 155. 

Hales edged to his 50, then was caught at mid-wicket on 61. Morgan, playing in his 200th ODI, soon followed but England needed just 32 in almost the same amount of overs. 

Joe Root (23*) and Ben Stokes (26*) saw their team home to mark another ODI series victory, their fifth in a row since the start of 2017 and again showed why they are big favorites to win their maiden World Cup crown next year.

England's ODI performance this winter has been a complete contrast to their red-ball form, winning 4-1 in Australia and 3-2 here, compared to their 4-0 Ashes humiliation.