Cricket

Opening England T20 against Black Caps ends in washout

By AAP Newswire

Oct 18, 2025

Cricket pitch covered due to tain. — Christchurch cricket fans have been left disappointed with the first NZ-England T20 washed out. -AP

England's huge winter has started in underwhelming fashion with a fitful batting display as rain in Christchurch led to an abandonment in the first T20 against New Zealand.

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While external attention is already trained on the Ashes, which starts next month, England must first negotiate a white-ball series across the Tasman Sea and the three T20s are building blocks for the World Cup early next year.

The tourists came into Saturday's series opener with a deep batting line-up but, while five of their top seven reached double figures, only Sam Curran passed 30 and his unbeaten 49 not out off 35 balls bailed them out from 5-81.

They were denied the chance to defend 6-153, which seemed competitive given the tricky Hagley Oval pitch, when the heavens opened during the interval and play was officially called off at 10.12pm local time.

Curran's second highest T20 score came after he was dropped twice - he also reversed being given out lbw to Kyle Jamieson, whose delivery pitched fractionally outside leg stump - but he cashed in on his fortuity with 18 off his last five balls.

The no-result in New Zealand's early spring was harsh on the Black Caps, who hunted as a pack, with all six of their bowlers collecting a wicket.

Matt Henry was superb in the powerplay, while spinners Mitchell Santner and Michael Bracewell conceded just one boundary between them in six overs against an England side missing Jofra Archer, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith and Will Jacks, all rested for this series with an eye on the Ashes.

England, though, boast a formidable opening pairing in Phil Salt and Jos Buttler, who are the only duo to make more than 1000 T20 runs together and average in excess of 50.

Buttler (29 off 25) belted his second ball for six after England were inserted.

Salt sliced to deep third and was out for three and Jacob Bethell, vying for the No.3 spot in the Ashes, departed for 15 after a cross-batted hack off Henry took the top edge and looped back to the seamer.

Brook, in his 50th T20 international, cleared the fence twice but was outfoxed on 20 by James Neesham's off-cutter.

Tom Banton, Buttler and then Jordan Cox, in the unfamiliar role of batting at No.7, all perished in the deep to leave Curran carrying the can for the remainder of the innings.