England and New Zealand meet at Trent Bridge on Tuesday in the fourth and final T20 of an absorbing series.
Jos Buttler's England set off like a train, winning the first two matches by seven wickets and 95 runs.
But aspirations of a clean sweep were blown away at Edgbaston where New Zealand turned the tables impressively, winning by 74 runs.
- New Zealand to win
- New Zealand Highest 1st Six Overs Runs
- J Bairstow Top England Runscorer
A Must Win For The Black Caps
It all looked too good to be true for Jos Buttler as his England side raced into a 2-0 lead in the four-match T20 series.
Excellent in the opener at the Riverside, every bit as ruthless in the second fixture at Old Trafford, England seemed to have the measure of the Black Caps.
But if we know anything about New Zealand, it's that they have never lack fight and spirit and after a few harsh words were aired following the 95-run drubbing in Manchester, the touring side bit back.
Finn Allen and Glen Phillips starred with the bat, making 83 and 69 respectively as the Kiwis piled up 202-5 in their 20 overs. And good, tight bowling coupled with some flat batting saw Buttler's hosts skittled for a paltry 128.
So it's 2-1 with one to go and while the latest form screams New Zealand, so too do the odds with the visitors still generously priced despite Sunday's heroics in Birmingham.
New Zealand have come to life in the nick of time, improved all three facets of their game, and suddenly have England under pressure.
And with one or two England players – notably Liam Livingstone, who is a key figure with both bat and ball – not performing, New Zealand are worth chancing to nip in.
Allen Onslaught Can Set The Tone
If New Zealand are to square the series then it will need to be done from the top, so they will be thrilled to see Allen responding magnificently when the chips were down at the weekend.
After scores of 21 and 3 in the first two matches, Allen came to life with a high-class 53-ball 83 featuring four fours and six towering sixes.
England's seamers got their lines wrong and Allen took advantage, enabling New Zealand to amass 48-1 off the powerplay six overs.
England, in reply, made just 30 off their powerplay, largely down to the fact that Dawid Malan, in at first fall, spent 11 balls compiling just two runs.
Malan is under pressure to keep his place, although opener Will Jacks, with scores of 22, 19 and 11, is unlikely to make big scores.
The Black Caps are outsiders to win the match and, therefore, outsiders in the Highest First Six Overs score market. Again, they look a decent bit of value.
NEW ZEALAND HIGHEST 1ST SIX OVERS RUNS
Brutal Bairstow To Star Again
There is a case for not looking beyond the openers when considering individual top runscorer honours, especially given the potential lack of time at the crease team-mates lower down the order might get in such a short format.
And when that batsman is as classy as Ashes hero Jonny Bairstow, why look any further anyway?
Bairstow has taken top-bat honours for England once already, courtesy of a wonderful 86 not out at Old Trafford, and he can repeat the feat in Nottingham.
BAIRSTOW TOP ENGLAND RUNSCORER
