England beats New Zealand by 76 runs in 4th T20

Dawid Malan struck his first Twenty20 century from 48 balls in a record 182-run partnership with Eion Morgan to lead England to a 76-run win over New Zealand in the fourth Twenty20 cricket international Friday which leveled the five-match series at 2-2.

Malan's unbeaten century was the fastest by an England batsman in a T20 international, beating by 12 balls Alex Hales' record of 60 deliveries and lifting England to 241-3, its highest score in the 20-over format.

New Zealand, never in the match, was dismissed for 165 in the 17th over.

New Zealand's Tim Southee tries to run out England's Jonny Bairstow during the T20 cricket match between England and New Zealand in Napier, New Zealand, Friday, Nov. 8, 2019. (John CowplandPhotosport via AP)

Morgan was out in the last over for 91, ending a 182-run partnership which was the highest by an England pair in T20s and the fourth highest of all-time.

Malan finished 103 not out, extending his extraordinary record in Twenty20 internationals. The left-hander now has a century and five half centuries from nine innings and a batting average of 57.25.

Malan said Morgan launched the England batting attack "and I sort of jumped in his slipstream and tagged along a little bit.

England's David Milan acknowledges the crowd after hitting 103 not out during the T20 cricket match between England and New Zealand in Napier, New Zealand, Friday, Nov. 8, 2019. (John CowplandPhotosport via AP)

"I got to about 80 and I thought these boundaries are so small I may as well have a crack. (Morgan) played fantastically well. The intent he showed from ball one took the pressure off me especially early on in my innings."

Tom Banton gave England a brisk beginning, hitting 31 from 20 balls after the Blakc Caps' stand-in captain, Tim Southee, made the inexplicable decision to bowl on winning the toss on the best batting wicket in New Zealand.

Malan came to the crease after the dismissal of Jonny Bairstow (8) in the fourth over and immediately took control.

New Zealand's Tim Southee, right, tries to run out England's Jonny Bairstow during the T20 cricket match between England and New Zealand in Napier, New Zealand, Friday, Nov. 8, 2019. (John CowplandPhotosport via AP)

He reached his half century from 31 balls, just ahead of Morgan who posted his 11th T20 50 from only 21 deliveries. But Malan was the inexorable force behind the partnership. He went on to post a second half century from only 17 deliveries and to reach a century which included nine fours and six sixes.

Malan and Morgan imposed themselves on the game first when they score 76 runs in five overs — from the 10th to the 14th overs — achieving an almost unstoppable momentum. They then helped England add 85 in the last five overs against a poor New Zealand attack. Only left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner, who took 2-32, emerged with any credit.

Martin Guptill and Colin Munro gave New Zealand's run chase early pace, raising a half century partnership in only 4.1 overs. But Guptill, having reached 27 from 14 balls, thrashed a delivery from Tom Curran into the leg side and found the only man within 50 meters — Malan.

England's Matt Parkinson, center, celebrates the wicket of Daryl Mitchell with his captain Eoin Morgan, right, during the T20 cricket match between England and New Zealand in Napier, New Zealand, Friday, Nov. 8, 2019. (John CowplandPhotosport via AP)

Tim Seifert (3), Colin Munro (30), Colin de Grandhomme (7) and Daryl Mitchell (2) quickly followed, taking with them any hope of a New Zealand win which would have clinched the series. Spinner Matt Parkinson removed Munro, de Grandhomme and Parkinson to defuse the threat of New Zealand's big hitters and finish with 4-47.

The final match of the series is at Auckland on Sunday.

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England's Chris Jordan, center, and teammates celebrate the wicket of new Zealand's Tim Seifert during the T20 cricket match between England and New Zealand in Napier, New Zealand, Friday, Nov. 8, 2019. (John CowplandPhotosport via AP)

England's David Milan celebrates his century as England captain Eion Morgan applauds during the T20 cricket match between England and New Zealand in Napier, New Zealand, Friday, Nov. 8, 2019. (John CowplandPhotosport via AP)

New Zealand batsman Martin Guptill, right, reacts as England bowler Tom Curren celebrates his wicket during the T20 cricket match between England and New Zealand in Napier, New Zealand, Friday, Nov. 8, 2019. (John CowplandPhotosport via AP)

PHOENIX (AP) — Madison Booker has led Texas' offense all season, so it was little surprise that she hit a jumper less than a minute into the game to give the Longhorns an early two-point lead.

It was the last shot she would make for more than three quarters.

The AP All-America forward missed her next 17 attempts from the field as the Longhorns fell to UCLA 51-44 on Friday night in the national semifinals of the women's Final Four.

Booker recovered somewhat in the final minutes as the Longhorns made a frantic push, contributing a pair of baskets to help cut the deficit to 47-44 with less than 30 seconds remaining. The rally ended when Booker was stuffed by UCLA's 6-foot-7 Lauren Betts on a driving layup with 20 seconds remaining.

Trailing 49-44 in the final seconds, Booker slipped and fell to the ground while trying to make a play, ending a night to forget. She finished 3 of 23 from the field, missing all four of her 3-point attempts, and had six points.

It's the second straight year Booker's season has ended with a disappointing game. She had just 11 points and one rebound while fighting foul trouble in a 74-57 loss to South Carolina in last year's national semifinals.

The loss wasn't all Booker's fault as the Longhorns struggled offensively the entire night. Texas shot just 30.8% from the field and only one player — Kyla Oldacre — finished in double figures with 11 points.

Texas was one of the hottest teams in the country coming into the Final Four, riding a 12-game winning streak into Friday’s game. During that stretch, the Longhorns beat fellow Final Four participant South Carolina by 17 points in the SEC Tournament championship and crushed Michigan 77-41 in the Elite Eight.

AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-womens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness

Texas forward Madison Booker (35) and UCLA guard Kiki Rice (1) scramble for the ball during the first half of a women's NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game at the Final Four, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Texas forward Madison Booker (35) and Texas guard Ashton Judd (21) celebrate against UCLA during the second half of a women's NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game at the Final Four, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Texas forward Madison Booker (35) and UCLA guard Kiki Rice (1) scramble for the ball during the first half of a women's NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game at the Final Four, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

UCLA guard Kiki Rice (1) drives against Texas forward Madison Booker (35) during the first half of a woman's NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game at the Final Four, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Texas forward Madison Booker (35) drives against UCLA guard Gabriela Jaquez (11) during the first half of a women's NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game at the Final Four, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)