Image from BBC Sport Website
Criticised for a lacklustre performance in the 1st ODI at the weekend, England responded by effecting 4 run outs and a couple of really great catches to comfortably beat NZ and level the series at 1-1.
Winning the toss under cloudy skys England decided to have a bowl first. Woakes picked up 2 early wickets and while his new ball partner Willey was unable to get a wicket himself he did have an influence in the field with the below catch and run out helping to reduce NZ to 48-3 from 15 overs.
Not to be outdone Jason Roy pulled off these 2 remarkable pieces of fielding to first remove Guptill who had made a solid if not spectacular 50 and then Nicholls for just 1.
In total NZ managed just 8 boundaries in their first 25 overs. De Grandhomme, Santner and Ferguson showed some fight for NZ with Santner the hero for NZ in the first ODI bringing up his first ODI half-century. New Zealand though continued to throw away wickets with 3 more run outs as they were bowled out for 223.
Chasing 224 for victory England made a stuttering start losing both Roy and Root early on but it was clear from the attacking intent of England's top order that they meant not to waste too much time in chasing down New Zealand's small total. Bairstow looked largely untroubled and played some fine shots until he was out for 37. Morgan and Stokes then put on a partnership of 88 with the captain falling 1 short of a half-century. Perhaps most pleasing for England will be the return to form of Stokes who made an unbeaten 63. While he looked a little scratchy and struggled to time the ball early in his innings, he began later on to exert his authority on the bowling attack, including walking down the pitch to Boult and slapping him for this 6.
Buttler joined in the fun later, smashing 36 from just 20 balls as England cruised to victory with 12 overs to spare.