MANCHESTER — England limited overs captain Eoin Morgan said the national side had shown it “could beat the best in the world in any game of cricket” after ensuring New Zealand's tour ended on a losing note. Having defeated New Zealand — which thrashed England by eight wickets at Wellington in February en route to the World Cup final — 3-2 in a thrilling One-Day International series, Morgan's men inflicted a 56-run thrashing upon the Black Caps in Tuesday's tour-ending Twenty20 international at Old Trafford. “This felt a million miles away after the World Cup,” said Morgan of a global tournament where England suffered a humiliating first-round exit without beating a single rival Test nation. “This is a fantastic way to finish what has been a great month of cricket,” he added. “When you're trying to implement change within a group it's important to have successes along the way and these guys have had that. “I want these guys to play with as much freedom as possible.” Man-of-the-match Joe Root top-scored with 68 in England's 191 for seven, but New Zealand was well-placed at 88 for two and requiring 104 off the last 12 overs for victory. However, it suffered a batting collapse that saw its final five wickets lost for just four runs in 12 balls. New Zealand was dismissed for 135, with Kane Williamson's typically elegant 57 a rare highlight. England Twenty20 international debutants David Willey, who also ran out Williamson with a brilliant pick-up and throw from cover, and Mark Wood took three wickets apiece. “Now we have won this game and the ODI series it reinforces to the guys that, it might not always come off, but we can beat the best in the world in any game of cricket,” said Morgan, not currently in England's Test side. For New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum, whose typically rapid 35 off 15 balls, it was a desperately disappointing end to what had otherwise been a closely contested tour. “Some of our batting was pretty amateurish,” McCullum said. “Credit to England, they put us under pressure and looked for wickets as they have done throughout the series and they were able to get hold of them.” ‘Sangakkara undecided on future' Sri Lanka's batting great Kumar Sangakkara is still in talks with selectors to discuss his retirement from Test cricket, captain Angelo Mathews said Wednesday. Local media had speculated that the 37-year-old will only play three more home Tests — two in the ongoing series against Pakistan and one against India in August — before ending his glittering 15-year career. But Mathews, speaking to reporters ahead of the second Test against Pakistan starting in Colombo Thursday, said the team's senior pro had still not made up his mind. — Agencies
