CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AP) England won the toss and chose to bowl Saturday in the deciding fifth one-day cricket international against New Zealand at Hagley Oval.
Captain Eoin Morgan said the pitch looked good for batting but England preferred the option of a known run chase later.
Ross Taylor, who scored a match-winning 181 not out in the fourth match on Wednesday, has been ruled out with a leg injury. Taylor guided New Zealand past England's total of 335-9 with five wickets down and three balls to spare to level the five-match series at 2-2. He is replaced by Mark Chapman.
England also made one enforced change, naming Alex Hales in place of opener Jason Roy who has a back injury.
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New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Kane Williamson (captain), Mark Chapman, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Trent Boult.
England: Jonny Bairstow, Alex Hales, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan (captain), Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Tom Curran, Mark Wood.
Umpires: Ruchira Palliyaguruge, Sri Lanka, and Wayne Knights, New Zealand.
TV umpire: Rod Tucker, Australia. Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle, Sri Lanka.
