Malan keeps firing as England win their 100th T20 international... the BIG STATS from Hamilton

New Zealand reached the Tri Series final despite defeat by England at Seddon Park. The Cricketer crunches the numbers from the game

New Zealand reached the Tri Series final despite defeat by England at Seddon Park on Sunday.

By passing 174 in their ultimately unsuccessful pursuit of 195 for victory, the Blackcaps ensured their net run rate was superior, and booked a spot at Eden Park to face Australia on Wednesday.

The Cricketer picks out some big stats from the game in Hamilton.

MALAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUNS

Run machine Dawid Malan was at it again at Seddon Park.

By heaving Ish Sodhi into the trees over square leg’s head for six, he reached his fourth T20 international half-century in just five innings for his country.

No other man has made that fast a start.

EOIN IN FORM

Eoin Morgan’s return to form with the bat saw him make his joint second best score in any T20 innings, anywhere in the world.

Morgan managed 80 not out at Seddon Park, tying with his knock for Peshawar Zalmi against Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League way back in 2015.

His best remains the 85 not out the England skipper hit on national duty against South Africa in Johannesburg. That was in 2009.

MUNRO MADNESS

Of the 10 fastest half-centuries ever made in T20 internationals, Colin Munro has three.

Munro’s 18-ball blitzkrieg in Hamilton matched his second fastest in a Blackcaps shirt, level with his effort against West Indies on New Year’s Day.

His fastest - a 14-ball demolition of Sri Lanka in Auckland in 2016 - is second on the all-time list only to Yuvraj Singh, who reached 50 in a frankly absurd 12 deliveries for India against England in Durban in 2007. As Stuart Broad will unhappily remember.

OLD FRIENDS

This was the 100th time Trent Boult and Tim Southee featured on the same New Zealand in international cricket.

TON UP

Talking of century landmarks, the game in Hamilton was the 100th T20 International involving England.

New Zealand have been the most regular opponents - this was the 16th meeting of the two countries in the format - while Australia and South Africa have been faced 15 times each.

A total of 11 nations make up the oppo list, including Ireland, Afghanistan and the Netherlands - against whom England have a zero per cent win rate from their two matches.