England vs New Zealand third ODI scores, result, highlights, battling collapse sets unwanted record for England’s top 4, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Duckett

England’s batting has crumbled once again in the face of New Zealand’s pace attack to be dismissed for 222 in the third and final ODI in Wellington.

Already up 2-0 in the series, New Zealand found themselves well placed for a clean sweep after inserting the tourists and skittling their top order for a third successive match.

Seamer Blair Tickner (4-64) claimed four wickets for the second successive game, snaring middle and lower order wickets after England had been reduced to 5-44.

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Jamie Overton’s maiden ODI half-century was the foundation of England’s recovery.

All-rounder Overton was the last man out for 68 in the 41st over to continue a fighting series with the bat, passing 40 in all three innings.

Brydon Carse also achieved a career-best score in the format, blasting four sixes on his way to 36, while Jos Buttler scored an uncharacteristically patient 38.

Earlier, Zakary Foulkes (2-27) dismissed Jamie Smith and Joe Root inside the first four overs.

New-ball partner Jacob Duffy (3-56) then removed Ben Duckett, Harry Brook and Jacob Bethell cheaply before the 11th over as the tourists’ specialist batsmen again paid dearly for reckless stroke-making.

England’s top four accumulated a total of 84 runs across the three matches, the fewest by any team’s top four in a men’s ODI series or tournament where they batted at least three times.

It means alarm bells are ringing as England big guns Root and Brook head into the Ashes with questions marks over their form.

England didn’t come close to seeing out 50 overs across the series. They were dismissed for 223 in the four-wicket loss in Mount Maunganui and for 175 in the subsequent five-wicket defeat in Hamilton on Wednesday.