NZ vs ENG 3rd ODI 2025 kicked off under cloudy skies at Sky Stadium in Wellington on November 1, 2025. Fans packed the 37,000-capacity venue hoping for a dead rubber to spark life into the series. Instead, they witnessed high drama, heartbreak, and history. New Zealand chased down 223 with just two wickets in hand, thanks to an unlikely hero in Blair Tickner. This victory marked only the second time New Zealand whitewashed England in an ODI series and the first in 42 years.
Mitch Santner won the toss for the third straight match and chose to bowl first. The pitch offered early movement, and England’s top order crumbled yet again. From 44 for 5, Jamie Overton’s fighting 68 dragged them to 222. New Zealand looked comfortable at 78 for 0 but slipped to 196 for 8. Tickner and Zak Foulkes held their nerve to knock off the remaining runs in the 45th over.
This recap brings you every key moment, player quotes, stats in easy tables, and what it means for both teams ahead of the Ashes. Keep scrolling for the full story.
Toss, Pitch Report, and Pre-Match Buzz at Sky Stadium
Mitch Santner called correctly and inserted England without hesitation. “There was a bit in the surface early, and we wanted to exploit it,” he said later. The Sky Stadium pitch had a green tinge, with an average first-innings score of 241 in the last five ODIs. Early swing and seam were on the menu, but the track usually flattened out after the 20th over.
Weather stayed dry with temperatures around 15°C. No rain interruptions meant a full 50-over contest. New Zealand made one change — Devon Conway replaced Kane Williamson, who sat out with a minor groin strain. England kept faith with the same XI despite losing the first two games.
| Pre-Match Snapshot | Details |
|---|---|
| Toss | New Zealand won and bowled |
| Venue | Sky Stadium, Wellington |
| Capacity | 37,000 |
| Pitch Type | Green, early help for seamers |
| Avg 1st Innings Score (Last 5 ODIs) | 241 |
| Team Changes | NZ: Conway in for Williamson |
England’s Top Order Nightmare: 44/5 in Just 10 Overs
NZ vs ENG 3rd ODI 2025 saw England’s openers fail for the sixth straight innings. Jamie Smith and Ben Duckett managed only 9 runs between them. Jacob Duffy and Zak Foulkes bowled unchanged for the first 14 overs, swinging the new ball both ways.
Here is how the top five fell:
| Wicket | Batsman | Score | Bowler | Balls Faced | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jamie Smith | 0 | Foulkes | 4 | Edged cut to keeper |
| 2 | Ben Duckett | 9 | Duffy | 11 | Toe-end to mid-on |
| 3 | Joe Root | 4 | Foulkes | 6 | LBW inswinger |
| 4 | Harry Brook | 0 | Duffy | 3 | Edged to slip |
| 5 | Jacob Bethell | 10 | Duffy | 15 | Slashed to slip |
England set an unwanted record — the fewest runs by a top four in any three-match ODI series where a team batted at least three times. Their top four scored just 84 runs across the series.
| England Top 4 Series Aggregate | Runs | Innings | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smith + Duckett + Root + Brook | 84 | 12 | 7.0 |
Harry Brook admitted after the game, “We keep talking about starts, but we are not getting them. Losing the toss three times did not help, but we have to find ways.”
Lower Order Fightback: Overton and Carse Add 126 Valuable Runs
Jos Buttler survived a huge LBW shout off his first ball from Duffy. He and Sam Curran steadied the ship with a 53-run stand for the sixth wicket. Buttler looked fluent until Blair Tickner entered the attack.
Tickner struck twice in quick succession:
- Curran — inside edge onto pad, ball rolled back to stumps.
- Buttler — full nip-backer crashed into off stump.
Jamie Overton walked in at 97 for 7. He pulled his first ball for four and later smoked a flat six that dented the boundary wall. Brydon Carse joined the party, smashing four sixes in his 36 off 30 balls.
| Key Partnerships for England | Runs | Balls | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buttler-Curran (6th) | 53 | 62 | – |
| Overton-Carse (8th) | 58 | 50 | – |
| Overton-Archer (10th) | 36 | 28 | – |
Overton reached his maiden ODI fifty off 48 balls with back-to-back boundaries off Tickner. England crossed 200 for the first time in the series but still fell 20–30 runs short of a fighting total.
| New Zealand Bowling Card | Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacob Duffy | 8 | 1 | 56 | 3 | 7.00 | |
| Zak Foulkes | 8 | 0 | 38 | 2 | 4.75 | |
| Blair Tickner | 8.2 | 0 | 64 | 4 | 7.68 | |
| Mitchell Santner | 8 | 0 | 34 | 0 | 4.25 | |
| Nathan Smith | 5 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 4.40 | |
| Michael Bracewell | 3 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 4.00 |
New Zealand Chase Starts Smoothly: 78-Run Opening Stand
Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra gave New Zealand a flying start. Conway survived a testing spell from Jofra Archer, who touched 145 kph. He responded by lofting Archer for a checked drive six over extra cover. Ravindra played elegant drives and cuts, racing to 30 off 25 balls.
| Powerplay Comparison Across Series | Match | NZ Score | ENG Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st ODI (Mt Maunganui) | 65/1 | 33/5 | |
| 2nd ODI (Hamilton) | 70/0 | 55/3 | |
| 3rd ODI (Wellington) | 64/0 | 44/5 |
The opening stand reached 78 in 12.1 overs before disaster struck. Ravindra drove Overton firmly; the ball clipped the bowler’s wrist, rolled between his legs, and hit the non-striker’s stumps. Conway was stranded halfway down the pitch — run out for 32.
Three overs later, Tom Latham suffered the same fate. Daryl Mitchell pushed Carse to mid-on and took off. Carse’s underarm flick deflected off his hand onto the stumps. Latham gone for 8.
Full Scorecard ESPNcricinfo.
Middle-Order Wobble: From 118/3 to 188/5
Ravindra fell soon after, bowled through the gate by Sam Curran for 46. Will Young edged Jamie Overton to the keeper, ending a poor series for him. Michael Bracewell holed out to deep midwicket off Adil Rashid’s second ball.
Daryl Mitchell stood firm. He added 41 with Mitchell Santner for the seventh wicket. Santner played aggressively, lofting two sixes and two fours in his short stay.
| New Zealand Fall of Wickets | Score | Over | Batsman |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 78 | 12.1 | Conway (run out) |
| 2 | 92 | 15.2 | Ravindra (bowled) |
| 3 | 104 | 17.5 | Young (caught) |
| 4 | 118 | 20.3 | Latham (run out) |
| 5 | 147 | 28.4 | Bracewell (caught) |
| 6 | 188 | 37.2 | Santner (caught) |
| 7 | 193 | 38.5 | Nathan Smith (bowled) |
| 8 | 196 | 40.1 | Mitchell (caught) |
Final Thriller: Tickner and Foulkes Seal the Deal
England sensed victory when Curran had Mitchell caught behind for 44. Santner skied Carse to long-on, and Overton castled Nathan Smith with a sharp inswinger. New Zealand needed 27 off 29 balls with two wickets left.
Blair Tickner, who already had four wickets, walked out with a bat he pulled from his garage. “No kit sponsor, so I grabbed whatever felt good,” he laughed later.
Here is the over-by-over finish:
- 42nd over (Carse): Tickner 4, Foulkes 1 → 7 runs
- 43rd over (Curran): Tickner 2, Foulkes 4, Tickner 1 → 7 runs
- 44th over (Archer): Foulkes 4, Tickner 6, Foulkes 1, Tickner 1 → 12 runs
Foulkes smashed a boundary through covers to bring the target to single digits. Tickner finished it with a lofted cover drive for four. New Zealand home by two wickets with 32 balls unused.
| Final Scorecard Summary | Team | Runs | Wickets | Overs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | 222 | 10 | 40.2 | |
| New Zealand | 226 | 8 | 44.4 |
Player of the Match and Series Awards
Blair Tickner earned Player of the Match for his all-round heroics. He took 4 for 64 and remained unbeaten in the chase.
| Player of the Match | Performance |
|---|---|
| Blair Tickner | 4/64 + unbeaten finishing knock |
Daryl Mitchell walked away with Player of the Series. He stayed not out in the first two games and scored a vital 44 in the decider.
| Daryl Mitchell Series Stats | Innings | Runs | Average | 50s | Key Knocks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 166 | 166.0 | 1 | 78*, 56*, 44 |
What the Captains and Stars Said
Mitch Santner (NZ Captain): “It was nice to see Tickner and Foulkes finish it. They have worked on their batting. Daryl controlled the middle overs in every game. Credit to England — they made us fight till the end.”
Harry Brook (ENG Captain): “Amazing game at the back end. We nearly defended 222, which shows fight. But we did not post big totals. Losing three tosses hurt, but New Zealand are the second-best team for a reason.”
Daryl Mitchell (Player of the Series): “Early summer pitches in New Zealand always do a bit. You wear a few bruises, build partnerships, and put pressure back when you can. That is Test cricket in ODI format!”
Blair Tickner (Player of the Match): “I told the boys I got the bat from the shed. Did not expect to bat for New Zealand today. Their main bowlers were done, so it helped. Happy to be back and contributing.”
By the Numbers: Records and Milestones
| Record Broken | Detail |
|---|---|
| Fewest top-4 runs in 3+ match ODI series | England – 84 runs |
| First NZ whitewash of ENG in ODIs since | 1983 |
| NZ home ODI series win streak | Unbeaten since Feb 2019 (12 series) |
| England losses since 2023 World Cup | 18 out of 26 |
| NZ Bowlers Series Wickets | Bowler | Wickets | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blair Tickner | 10 | 18.2 | |
| Jacob Duffy | 8 | 22.1 | |
| Zak Foulkes | 6 | 19.5 |
| Run-Outs in the Series | Match | Count |
|---|---|---|
| 1st ODI | 1 | |
| 2nd ODI | 0 | |
| 3rd ODI | 2 (both non-striker) |
New Zealand’s Home Dominance Continues
New Zealand have not lost an ODI series at home since February 2019. That is 12 series wins on the trot, including sweeps over India, Australia, and now England. Sky Stadium has hosted 10 ODIs since 2020 — New Zealand won 8.
England, on the other hand, have won just 8 of their last 26 ODIs. Their next assignment is the Ashes starting November 21 in Perth. The batting frailties exposed in New Zealand will worry Jos Buttler and the think tank.
Quick Hits – NZ vs ENG 3rd ODI 2025
- Who won NZ vs ENG 3rd ODI 2025? New Zealand won by 2 wickets with 32 balls remaining.
- What was the final score? England 222 (40.2 overs), New Zealand 226/8 (44.4 overs).
- Who was Player of the Match? Blair Tickner — 4 wickets and unbeaten in the chase.
- Who won Player of the Series? Daryl Mitchell — 166 runs at average 166.
- Did England win the toss? No, New Zealand won all three tosses in the series.
- Where was the match played? Sky Stadium, Wellington.
NZ vs ENG 2nd ODI 2025 Recap.
Final Thoughts and What is Next
NZ vs ENG 3rd ODI 2025 will be remembered for Blair Tickner’s garage bat and ice-cool nerves under pressure. New Zealand proved yet again why they are nearly unbeatable at home. England head to Australia with plenty of homework — especially their top order.
Which moment stood out for you? Was it Overton’s six that dented the wall, or Tickner’s winning boundary? Drop your thoughts in the comments. Do not forget to share this recap with your cricket group!
For more cricket updates, check our Ashes 2025/26 preview [internal link] and England ODI crisis deep dive [internal link]. Stay tuned to IPL Star for daily news, stats, and fun polls.
FAQs – NZ vs ENG 3rd ODI 2025
1. Who won NZ vs ENG 3rd ODI 2025?
New Zealand won NZ vs ENG 3rd ODI 2025 by 2 wickets with 32 balls to spare at Sky Stadium, Wellington. Blair Tickner and Zak Foulkes added an unbeaten 30-run stand to complete a historic 3-0 whitewash.
2. What was the final score in NZ vs ENG 3rd ODI 2025?
England scored 222 all out in 40.2 overs. New Zealand chased 226/8 in 44.4 overs. Jamie Overton top-scored with 68, while Blair Tickner took 4/64.
3. Who was Player of the Match in NZ vs ENG 3rd ODI 2025?
Blair Tickner was named Player of the Match in NZ vs ENG 3rd ODI 2025. He claimed 4 wickets for 64 runs and remained unbeaten to finish the chase with the bat.
4. Who won Player of the Series in the England tour of New Zealand 2025?
Daryl Mitchell won Player of the Series. He scored 166 runs at an average of 166, including two unbeaten knocks (78* and 56*) and a vital 44 in the NZ vs ENG 3rd ODI 2025.
5. Did New Zealand complete a whitewash in NZ vs ENG 3rd ODI 2025?
Yes! New Zealand achieved a 3-0 whitewash — their first ODI series sweep of England in 42 years (since 1983). This was only the second time NZ whitewashed England in ODIs.
6. Why did England collapse in NZ vs ENG 3rd ODI 2025?
England’s top order collapsed to 44/5 in 10.1 overs due to excellent swing bowling by Jacob Duffy (3/56) and Zak Foulkes. None of the top five reached double figures, setting a world record for fewest top-4 runs in a 3+ match ODI series (84 runs).
7. How did Jamie Overton perform in NZ vs ENG 3rd ODI 2025?
Jamie Overton scored a fighting 68 off 62 balls — his maiden ODI fifty. He hit 10 fours and 2 sixes, adding 58 with Brydon Carse to lift England from 97/7 to 222.
8. What caused New Zealand’s middle-order wobble in the chase?
After a 78-run opening stand, two run-outs (Conway and Latham at non-striker’s end) triggered a collapse. NZ slipped from 188/5 to 196/8, but Daryl Mitchell (44) and Mitchell Santner kept them in the hunt.
9. Where was NZ vs ENG 3rd ODI 2025 played?
The match was played at Sky Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand. The venue has a capacity of 37,000 and is known for early seam movement under overcast skies.
10. What’s next for England after the NZ vs ENG 3rd ODI 2025 loss?
England travel to Australia for The Ashes 2025/26, starting November 21 in Perth. Their 18th loss in 26 ODIs since the 2023 World Cup raises serious concerns about batting form ahead of the Test series.