England back from the dead

20 February 2008

Luke Wright watches as New Zealand scamper a single off the final delivery of the match

Paul Collingwood admitted England looked “dead and buried” before forcing a tie in a tense finish against New Zealand that keeps the series alive heading into the final one-day international in Christchurch.

The Kiwis, chasing a target of 341 on a batsman-friendly Napier wicket, looked to be cruising to victory heading into the final six overs.

But England refused to give up hope and, with wickets tumbling, the Kiwis reached the final over needing just seven to win.

Collingwood gambled by turning to Luke Wright and it paid off as Jamie How was run out for 139 and Daniel Vettori could only scramble a single off the final delivery to tie the match and leave New Zealand 2-1 ahead going into Saturday’s decider.

“We were dead and buried going into the last six overs,” Collingwood said.

“Jamie How (139) played fantastically well but our character was great, we got our yorkers right, the plans were right and we put them under pressure. There were a lot of nerves out there.”

The Durham all-rounder also hailed the efforts of Wright in that tense final over.

“We wanted to take it to the last over, obviously gambled on Wrighty and what a fantastic job he did,” he told Sky Sports 1.

“I could have bowled Wrighty five overs earlier but you want it to go to the last over, that’s where the pressure is. I backed him and that was it.”

Jamie How savours his first century in New Zealand colours © Getty Images

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New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori admitted the hosts were shattered by defeat.

He said: “It’s a game we should have comfortably won from the position we got ourselves in.

“We basically sewed it up and you have to take some responsibility for it. It’s one we should have won in the 47th or 48th over. There’s a little despair in the dressing room.”

Wright admitted he was surprised when Collingwood handed him the ball for the last over - his first over the innings.

“I thought Colly was taking the mickey when he told me to warm-up but it was great to get a moment like that,” he said. “We have to take a draw and be happy with that.”

Ryan Sidebottom, who returned fine figures of 1-45 on a pitch that produced 680 runs in the game, said: “You practise in the nets getting yorkers in at the death and it paid dividends today.

“We are a bit disappointed because we thought we had a win in the bag at one stage.

“It was a brilliant game and the series is still alive. We need to go to Christchurch and get a win there."

England players were fined 10 per cent of their match fee for falling two overs short of the target, with Collingwood - as captain - fined 20 per cent.