New Zealand and England will battle in the second T20I of the England tour of New Zealand 2025 at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on October 20. The first T20I at the same venue ended without a result due to rain, setting up this fixture as the true series opener for both sides seeking early momentum.

Confident hosts eye a strong start

New Zealand displayed solid bowling discipline in the rained-out game, using the overcast conditions effectively to restrict England to 153 for 6 before rain intervened. Mitchell Santner’s side will take heart from their collective bowling effort, with all six bowlers among the wickets. The hosts will rely on Tim Seifert and Rachin Ravindra up front, with Daryl Mitchell and Michael Bracewell forming the middle-order core. Kyle Jamieson’s bounce and control make him a key figure again, especially given Hagley Oval’s surface offering encouragement to the pacers.

England look to regain their edge

Sam Curran’s unbeaten 49 off 35 was the bright spark for England in the previous outing after their top order, including Phil Salt and If Buttlerfailed to capitalize. Harry Brookwho captains the side in this series, showed positive intent but could only manage 20 runs. England will aim for a more consistent batting display to put pressure on the Kiwi attack. Adil Rashid’s experience will be vital, while left-arm seamer Luke Wood and all-rounder Curran are expected to exploit the conditions.

NZ vs ENG, 2nd T20I: Match Details

• Date and Time: October 20, 11:45 AM IST / 06:15 AM GMT / 07:15 PM Local
• Venue: Hagley Oval, Christchurch

NZ vs ENG, Head-to-Head Record in T20Is

Matches played: 28 | New Zealand won: 10 | England won: 16 | No results: 2

Hagley Oval Pitch Report

The Hagley Oval pitch provides even bounce and moderate lateral movement early on, making it favourable for fast bowlers under lights. However, once set, batters can play through the line comfortably thanks to the quick outfield. Historically, nine out of thirteen T20Is at this venue have been won by chasing teams, suggesting a toss decision to bowl first may be advantageous. Weather forecasts indicate clear skies with minimal rain threat and temperatures between 18–21°C, promising a full 40-over contest.

Squads

New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Bevon Jacobs, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Robinson, Tim Seifert (wk)

England: Harry Brook (c), Rehan Ahmed, Sonny Baker, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler (wk), Brydon Carse, Jordan Cox, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Luke Wood

NZ vs ENG, Today’s Match Prediction

Case 1:

• New Zealand wins the toss and bowls first
• England’s powerplay score: 45-55
• England’s overall score: 170-190

Case 2:

• England wins the toss and bowls first
• New Zealand’s powerplay score: 50-60
• New Zealand’s overall score: 180-190

Match result: Team bowling first to win the contest.