Manchester, United Kingdom: England set themselves up for the Ashes by ensuring New Zealand's tour ended in a comprehensive defeat as they thrashed the Black Caps by 56 runs in the lone Twenty20 international at Old Trafford on Tuesday.


England celebrate winning by 56 runs after Jonny Bairstow caught out New Zealand's Mitchell McClenaghan during the Twenty20 (T20) international cricket match between England and New Zealand at Old Trafford. Pic/AFP 

New Zealand, set 192 for victory, collapsed to 135 all out as they lost their last five wickets for four runs in 12 balls. For England, it was the ideal way to sign off ahead of the Ashes after they had shared the two Test series 1-1 and defeated New Zealand, who humiliated them en route to the World Cup final, 3-2 in a thrilling one-day international series.