Malan's excellent knock is in vain as New Zealand's senior players star... PLAYER RATINGS

England slipped to a 12-run defeat at the hands of New Zealand on Tuesday. The Cricketer rates the individual performances of the two sets of players

England slipped to a 12-run defeat at the hands of New Zealand on Tuesday.

Kane Williamson and Martin Guptill helped the Kiwis to 196 for five before England were restricted to 184 for nine, with Dawid Malan making a half-century.

The Cricketer rates the individual performances of the two sets of players...

NEW ZEALAND

Colin Munro (11): An uncharacteristically sluggish start from the opener, who never got going before picking out Billings in the deep. Made up for it with a miserly spell with the ball. 6

Martin Guptill (65): Brutal, bruising innings from a man who had, in truth, been finding going tough in the format for his country of late. 8.5

Kane Williamson (72): After a difficult patch of form, the skipper came up with the goods, mixing timing and precision placement with the odd hack to take England’s attack to pieces. 9

Colin de Grandhomme (0 & 0-15): Found the middle from the first ball of his innings. Sadly for the Kiwi, he also found England’s best catcher at long-off. Important pair of overs with the ball. 6

Mark Chapman (20): A fine late cameo from the debutant, who looked totally at ease. 7.5

Ross Taylor (1*): Only faced one delivery at the end of the Kiwi innings. 5

Tim Seifert (14): Important late runs and very vocal behind the stumps. 7.5

Mitchell Santner (2-29): Poor drop of Willey but brave with the ball, mixing flight and darts and claiming two deserved wickets. 7.5

Tim Southee (1-30): Uncharacteristic dropped catch gave Jordan a let-off. Four very tidy overs and a good grab to dismiss Buttler. 7

Ish Sodhi (2-49): Picked up two big wickets despite being taken to task by Malan and Hales. 4.5

Trent Boult (2-46): Cleaned up the tail and took the all-important catch to get rid of Malan after an expensive four overs. 5.5

ENGLAND

Jason Roy (8): Another meagre return with the bat from the Surrey opener, who lost his wicket tamely by dollying a catch into the legside and whose place must surely be in a little jeopardy right now. 3

Alex Hales (47): A thoroughly entertaining knock. Seemed totally at ease and never in danger… and then picked out the man in the deep. 8

Dawid Malan (59): The T20 international run machine was at it again. Confident against spin and seam but couldn’t see his team home. 8.5

James Vince (10): Another frustrating knock for the Hampshire batsman. One glorious driven six; one unnecessary run out. 3

Jos Buttler (2): England needed their skipper to come up with the goods. Since that stunning ODI ton in Sydney, Buttler’s batting hasn’t hit its usual standards. Decision to give Rashid a change of ends paid dividends in the field. 4

Sam Billings (12): One dropped catch shouldn’t take away from excellent ground work in the deep. Flattered to deceive with the bat again. 4.5

David Willey (21 & 0-36): Couldn’t find a breakthrough on a pitch that looked awful but played perfectly consistency. Daft run out after an enterprising cameo at No. 7. 6

Chris Jordan (6 & 1-34): Good at the death to outfox Williamson and make a timely breakthrough. And then there was that catch. Oh, that catch. But his final over was costly and he couldn’t get going with the bat. 6.5

Liam Plunkett (0 & 0-33): The workhorse role didn’t allow much time for rhythm but remained the most economical member of the England attack. 5

Adil Rashid (8* & 2-36): Three expensive overs preceded a fine final effort. A difficult ground for a legspinner to defend on. 5.5

Mark Wood (5* & 2-51): Missed his lines too often, allowing Guptill and Williamson to free their arms and score quickly. 4