Final result
New Zealand Cricket won by 4 wickets
Player of the match: HC Brook
Result · One-Day Internationals
England vs New Zealand Cricket
Result · One-Day Internationals
Venue par · 211Chase success · 46%POTM · HC Brook
Match preview & overview
New Zealand edge England by 4 wickets in Bay Oval ODI thriller
New Zealand beat England by 4 wickets at Bay Oval on 26 October 2025, completing a chase of 224 after England were bowled out for 223. England's innings was defined by a brutal opening phase: five wickets fell inside the powerplay for just 45 runs, leaving their middle order to salvage something from the wreckage. HC Brook led that recovery, earning the Player of the Match award despite finishing on the losing side. New Zealand's reply was not straightforward either; they lost 3 wickets inside the powerplay despite scoring 59, but their middle-overs batting proved decisive. A partnership phase that yielded 165 runs for 3 wickets between overs 11 and the close saw New Zealand home with 4 wickets remaining.
The result moved the head-to-head record across 104 ODI meetings to 49 wins for England, 41 for New Zealand. The 2025 series in New Zealand has been keenly contested, with England winning by 65 runs at Hagley Oval and New Zealand responding with wins at Seddon Park and Sky Stadium. This Bay Oval match adds another entry to a rivalry that rarely produces comfortable margins.
Pitch report & venue insights
Bay Oval — 55-match sample
Aggregate conditions from 2013–2025. Numbers that tend to decide matches at this ground — par score, chase success, powerplay averages and toss bias.
55
T20 matches hosted
211
Avg 1st-innings score
199
Avg 2nd-innings score
46%
Chase success rate
43
Avg powerplay runs
65%
Toss-field rate
Key talking points
Moments the match hinged on
Headline angle
England's powerplay collapse set the tone
England lost 5 wickets inside the powerplay, scoring just 45 runs in the opening phase. That kind of top-order damage is almost impossible to fully recover from in a 50-over format, and England's final total of 223 reflected the hole they dug early on.
Angle 02
New Zealand also stumbled at the top in the chase
Angle 03
224 above the venue's average first-innings score
Angle 04
Toss decision aligned with ground trends
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Brook named Player of the Match despite being on the losing side
Key players
Players who decided it
Betting & analytical angles
Angles the data surfaced
- Bay Oval's 44 per cent chase success rate suggests outright result markets at this venue tend to favour the side batting first, making the toss decision particularly relevant in pre-match pricing.
- England's powerplay fragility, 5 wickets inside the first phase, may be reflected in top-order batting markets ahead of future fixtures in this series.
- The Player of the Match award going to an England batter in a losing cause points to value potentially available in individual performance markets even when your side's outright odds are long.
- Middle-overs run-rate markets may be more informative than death-overs lines at Bay Oval, given that neither innings recorded any runs or wickets in the death phase according to available data.
For editorial context only. Not a forecast and not betting advice. 18+ only, please gamble responsibly.
Frequently asked
Questions about England vs New Zealand Cricket
Who won the New Zealand vs England ODI at Bay Oval on 26 October 2025?
New Zealand Cricket won by 4 wickets. Chasing 224, New Zealand reached their target with wickets to spare after England were bowled out for 223. It was New Zealand's second win over England in three ODIs played in New Zealand in 2025.
What was England's score in the match at Bay Oval?
England were bowled out for 223. They lost 5 wickets inside the powerplay for just 45 runs but recovered through the middle overs, adding 178 runs for 5 further wickets. HC Brook was named Player of the Match despite finishing on the losing side.
What is the head-to-head record between England and New Zealand in ODIs?
England lead the head-to-head with 49 wins from 104 meetings, compared to 41 wins for New Zealand, with 11 no results. The 2025 series has been closely fought, with both sides winning in New Zealand across different venues.
Where can I watch England vs New Zealand ODIs in the UK?
England's tour matches in New Zealand are typically broadcast live on Sky Sports Cricket in the UK, with streaming available via Sky Go and NOW TV. Check the Sky Sports schedule for confirmed coverage details for each fixture.
What is Bay Oval like as a venue for ODI cricket?
Bay Oval has hosted 55 matches, with an average first-innings score of 211 and an average second-innings score of 199. Chasing sides win only 44 per cent of the time, and teams elect to bowl first after winning the toss in 65 per cent of matches, suggesting the ground favours sides batting second only modestly when they get the conditions right.
Who was Player of the Match in the Bay Oval ODI?
HC Brook of England was named Player of the Match. Although England lost by 4 wickets, Brook's batting contribution in the middle overs was significant enough to earn the individual award, a reflection of how heavily England's recovery from 45/5 depended on him.
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Photo credits (1)
- Kane Williamson — photo by Mark Lockett, CC BY-SA 2.0 · source