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England bowlers keep NZ in check Flintoff holds nerve to seal win
(about 5 hours later)
England produced an impressive bowling performance to restrict New Zealand to 205-9 in their one-day game in Hobart. Andrew Flintoff made an unbeaten 72 as England squeezed home by three wickets against New Zealand in Hobart.
A sluggish pitch made run-scoring far from straightforward and the Kiwis were soon in trouble as Jimmy Anderson took three wickets with the new ball. Freed from the cares of captaincy, Flintoff hit seven fours as they reached 206-7 with one ball to spare.
Nathan Astle made a useful 45 before he was bowled off the inside edge by Paul Collingwood, who had figures of 2-25. It was their first win of any kind since arriving in Australia but came at a price as captain Michael Vaughan suffered a hamstring injury.
New Zealand added 52 in the final 10 overs before Anderson (4-42) ended the innings by bowling Mark Gillespie. New Zealand were restricted to 205-9 in their 50 overs as fast bowler James Anderson produced figures of 4-42.
The only thing which did not go according to plan for England was an injury to Michael Vaughan, who appeared to have a problem with his left knee after throwing on the turn in the latter stages of the innings but did not have to leave the field.
606 DEBATE: Your thoughts on England v New Zealand 606 DEBATE: Your thoughts on England v New Zealand
Ross Taylor apart, the Kiwis produced an undistinguished batting effort against Australia on the same ground two days earlier, but rather than face the prospect of another run-chase, Stephen Fleming chose to bat first after winning the toss. But England made heavy weather of their run-chase, slumping to 138-5 before a stand of 60 in 11 overs between Flintoff and Paul Nixon turned things in their favour.
Brendon McCullum hammered Jon Lewis's second delivery for six over extra cover and two balls later flicked him away to long leg for a boundary. Even then, however, there were a series of final twists as Nixon (15) ran himself out attempting a second run to Daniel Vettori in the deep and Jamie Dalrymple carved a catch to Jeetan Patel at point.
It was a show of aggression which must have sent a shiver down the collective spine of England supporters who have become used to seeing their side steamrollered by Australia in the past few months. Flintoff did his bit to jangle the nerves of his team-mates in the dressing room when he miscued a full toss to mid-wicket, but umpire Steve Davis ruled the delivery was above waist height and called no-ball.
Things went awry for the Kiwis, however, when McCullum lobbed an easy catch to skipper Vaughan at mid-off and departed for 16. Jon Lewis was on strike at the start of the final over, with four still needed, but managed to pick up a single and a relieved Flintoff finished things off.
Nathan Astle tried to maintain the tempo, hoisting Lewis over long-on for six, but the loss of Fleming and Taylor in successive overs put them firmly on the back foot. England made one change following their defeat by Australia in the opening game of the triangular competition, with Ed Joyce replacing the injured Kevin Pietersen.
Fleming was bowled off the inside edge for 12 by Anderson, who then tempted Taylor into trying to pull a ball which was not short enough for the stroke and the ball ended up in the hands of Vaughan at cover. New Zealand stuck with the same XI which lost to Australia two days earlier and rather than face the prospect of another run-chase, Stephen Fleming chose to bat first after winning the toss.
Taylor's contribution, following his 84 against Australia, was only a single and left Astle and Peter Fulton to try and recover the initiative for New Zealand. Brendon McCullum hit the second ball of the game for six but he soon lobbed a catch to Vaughan at mid-off, the first of three wickets for Anderson in an excellent eight-over spell with the new ball.
But Paul Collingwood and Monty Panesar, bowling in tandem for 12 overs, offered them little and Astle eventually went in similar fashion to Fleming after reaching 45 off 63 balls as Collingwood earned a deserved reward. Fleming was bowled off the inside edge for 12 and Ross Taylor went for a single, but Nathan Astle contributed a useful 45 before he became the second batsman to play on, with Paul Collingwood the successful bowler.
The slide continued as Fulton (27) chipped Andrew Flintoff to a leaping Vaughan at mid-wicket and Panesar won an lbw decision against Daniel Vettori (11) as he missed an attempted sweep, although TV replays suggested it would have missed leg stump. Collingwood and Monty Panesar bowled tightly in tandem for 12 overs in the middle of the innings and offered the batsmen little and the pressure told when Flintoff replaced Panesar and Peter Fulton (27) chipped to a leaping Vaughan at mid-wicket.
Craig McMillan followed tamely for 22, giving a return catch to Collingwood, who ran through his 10-over stint for highly impressive figures of 2-25.Craig McMillan followed tamely for 22, giving a return catch to Collingwood, who ran through his 10-over stint for highly impressive figures of 2-25.
Only the tail remained and New Zealand were grateful for an eight-wicket partnership of 39 between James Franklin and Shane Bond. James Franklin was caught at wide long-off for 20 in the 47th over as Flintoff completed his stint with figures of 2-37, but some unorthodox batting by Mark Gillespie, who slogged Anderson over mid-wicket for four carried the total beyond 200.
Franklin was caught at wide long-off for 20 in the 47th over as Flintoff completed his stint with figures of 2-37, but some unorthodox batting by Gillespie, who slogged Anderson over mid-wicket for four carried the total beyond 200.
England: MP Vaughan (capt), AJ Strauss, IR Bell, E Joyce, A Flintoff, PD Collingwood, JWM Dalrymple, PA Nixon (wkt), JM Anderson, J Lewis, MS Panesar.
New Zealand: B B McCullum (Wkt), N J Astle, S P Fleming (Capt) R L Taylor, P G Fulton, C D McMillan, J E C Franklin, D L Vettori, M R Gillespie, S E Bond, J S Patel.