Tim Seifert bats for the Black Caps against England in the second T20 cricket international at Hagley Oval, Christchurch, 20th October, 2025. Photo: Photosport
Black Caps vs England
Third and final T20
7:15pm Thursday October 23
Eden Park, Auckland
Live blog updates on RNZ
Black Caps opener Tim Seifert says the third T20 international against England at Auckland's Eden Park could be a run-fest tonight, weather and pitch permitting.
The New Zealanders need to win the match to level the three-match series after the first was washed out and England convincingly won the second by 65 runs at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.
Eden Park, with its short straight boundaries, is renowned for high cricket scores.
"It can sometimes be a bit Mickey Mouse at Eden Park. 250 could be a par score, so it will be interesting to see what the wicket plays like and we've just got to adapt to whatever we play on,'' Seifert told reporters.
The challenge for the Black Caps will be to find enough form to beat the English, especially after Phil Salt (85 from 56 balls) and Harry Brook (78 from 35) mauled the bowling attack on the way to a huge 236 for four in the second T20 on Monday.
Seifert doesn't feel they are far away.
"They potentially got 20 above par score, if they got a par score I think we were in a great way to chase that score. We ended up getting 170 and to be honest with ourselves we didn't bat that well. To get 170 and not have a par performance is also a good sign as well."
Seifert top-scored in the chase, hitting 39 off 29 deliveries before falling, but only three others made double figures as they side were all out in 18 overs for 171.
Seifert, who operates off a casual New Zealand Cricket contract these days, says he feels in good form.
"I've been pleased how I've been going about it, (but) disappointed that I didn't kick on and get a big score, because that's what we needed to win that game.
"I'm in a good mindset and have had a good past year, and hopefully a big one is just around the corner."
Seifert operates off the same fast-scoring mindset that many openers employ in the modern T20 game.
"If you look around the whole world, all openers are kinda going hard. Look at Mitch Marsh (for Australia against New Zealand) a few weeks ago."
Seifert said he and Finn Allen employed a similar approach, while teammates Tim Robinson and Devon Conway had their own methods.
"Sometimes it looks like they are smacking sixes and some guys will be hitting fours but their strike rates are still high."
The Black Caps are in urgent need for batters to set their innings alight.
The English had Salt and Brook do that in Christchurch but Seifert says sometimes it only takes one - "and that is all we need to win those games."
The possibility of big totals tonight could be affected by the weather, with showers forecast for Auckland this evening.
Seifert says the wild spring weather is frustrating but they'll take what they can get.
"I think when you play Australia and England you are going to take every chance to play them. You'd rather potentially play this time of year rather than not."
Seifert's casual contract commits him to T20 internationals for New Zealand, including next year's World Cup if selected, but he has been able to play in overseas leagues, including Australia's Big Bash and India's IPL.
"Next year is a keen slate and we will just see what that looks like and go from there."
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