New Zealand square off against England in the first T20I in the three-match series on Saturday, October 18. This mouth-watering clash will be played at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch.
The Kiwis won a T20I tri-series involving hosts Zimbabwe and a second-string South African team in July. However, they had a tough outing in a three-match T20I series at home against Australia earlier this month. The Blackcaps lost two matches in the series, while one was washed out. Mitchell Santner, who missed the series against the Aussies, will look to lead his team from the front against a strong England side.
The Three Lions, on the other hand, drew a three-match T20I series at home against South Africa last month. During the second T20I, they amassed a mind-boggling score of 304/2, going on to win the match by 146 runs. The series ended in a stalemate at 1-1, as the deciding third T20I was abandoned due to rain. England subsequently played Ireland in a three-match T20I series in Dublin. While the second match was washed out, England won the first and third T20Is rather convincingly.