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Even before the rainfall started, England's winter campaign had turned into a disappointing affair. During a chilly Christchurch evening, the team's batsmen were surprised by seam movement – “You don’t expect that in white-ball cricket, so when it does do a little bit it’s almost a shock,” stated the batsman. Additionally, they were slowed down by the spin of Mitchell Santner and Bracewell, struggling to 81 for five before first Sam Curran seemed to rescue them, and then the weather completely did.

Weak Start for the English

Just a pair of players scored over twenty runs, with the fall of Buttler for twenty-nine, ex-skipper turning into the fifth man to go, highlighting a sluggish opening to the team's innings until Sam Curran's forty-nine improved their total.

“Having him return is crucial; he contributes significantly with batting, bowling, and fielding,” commented Brook. “For him to get us out of a bit of a hole and up to a respectable total was awesome. He’s a valuable player to have in the middle order, a left-hander as well – he’s going to be around for a while, I think.”

The Batsman's Achievement Marred

Prior to the match, Harry Brook had been presented with a special award – similar to his regular one – to celebrate his half-century of games in T20 cricket, the skipper now the 14th player from England to achieve this feat. However, the peak on his headwear was the only high point of his night, which included a unsuccessful toss and a similarly disappointing dismissal, clean bowled leg before wicket just as he found his rhythm after a awkward beginning.

Curran’s Fortunate Reprieves

Any good fortune England had was greedily hoovered up by Sam Curran, who benefited from three extraordinary escapes. At 14 runs when he lofted a Duffy delivery toward the Christchurch air, from which precipitation had, conveniently, begun to come down. The ball came back freshly lubricated and duly escaped the bowler’s fingers.

After a brief interruption and seven deliveries after, Curran, now on 26, lifted the ball towards point, where Tim Robinson stood still but still could not catch it. Next, in the following over, Curran tried to paddle a Jamieson ball that was too full for that action, failed to connect completely, and was pinned on the leg.

There was little doubt about where the ball was going, and the on-field umpire agreed, but by this stage Curran was the last recognised batter and the team had challenges to spare. After reviewing at a video, the 27-year-old was partway to the dressing room, preparing to leave, when it was established that the ball had pitched beyond the wicket and he was called back. He scored 19 more off his final deliveries to carry the team to 153/6, at which point the rain resumed to end the contest.

Team Belief Stays High

But, their inability to handle the questions posed by the Kiwis' attack does not mean the team will be seeking any alternative solutions. “Obviously we didn’t get the start we wanted but the message is going to be just double down,” said Brook. “There’s a reason why the team is laid out the way it is – because if we get into situations like that we always have someone who can get us out of the problem.”

New Zealand’s Positive View

Despite those two drops, New Zealand will be encouraged by the way they dismantled the English theoretically deep order, their attackers taking a wicket apiece. “Not knowing how the game would have played out we can only judge on our performance and I guess we’re happy with where we’re at,” said Kyle Jamieson. “I think we made good improvements from when we played Australia a couple of weeks ago. It’s just growth really. As long as we continue along that path that’s a win for us, and that’s what success looks like.”