In a dramatic finish at Trent Bridge, New Zealand held their nerve to defeat England by just 2 runs in the final league encounter for both sides at the Continental Cup 2025. The narrow victory allowed New Zealand to finish 4th on the points table, while England ended their campaign in 3rd place, narrowly missing a chance to qualify for the final.

Batting first, New Zealand posted 112 all out in 8.4 overs after a blistering start and a late collapse. Glenn Phillips played a quickfire knock of 33 off 9 balls, smashing boundaries all over the park, while Devon Conway (24 off 10) and Tim Seifert (25 off 13) gave New Zealand early momentum. However, England’s spinners turned the tide — Shoaib Bashir starred with 4 wickets for 30 runs, while Moeen Ali (3/28) dismantled the middle order to restrict the Kiwis well before their allotted overs.

Chasing 113, England got off to a rocky start, losing Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow early. Harry Brook (26 off 18) and Chris Woakes (20 off 6) kept hopes alive with crucial boundaries, but the Kiwi bowlers fought back relentlessly. Adam Milne (2/12) bowled with precision, while Ish Sodhi and James Neesham provided timely breakthroughs.

The turning point came in the penultimate over, when Neesham conceded only 2 runs and took 2 wickets, removing both Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes in a game-changing spell. That left England needing 18 runs from the final over, with Mark Wood and Shoaib Bashir at the crease.

Lockie Ferguson was entrusted with the final over, and despite a couple of close calls, he held his composure brilliantly. England managed only 15 runs, falling short by just 2 runs, as New Zealand clinched one of the most thrilling victories of the tournament.

Although Shoaib Bashir was named Player of the Match for his all-round effort — 4/30 with the ball and an unbeaten 9 off 4 in the chase — it was New Zealand’s death-bowling pair of Neesham and Ferguson who made the decisive difference.

With this result, England finished 3rd and New Zealand 4th in the standings — both showing flashes of brilliance but falling short of the consistency needed to reach the final. The win ended New Zealand’s campaign on a high note, showcasing their trademark fighting spirit till the very end.