Pace bowler James Franklin went from villain to hero as New Zealand kept their triangular series hopes alive with a 90-run win over England at the Adelaide Oval on Tuesday.
The Black Caps did not look to have enough on the board when dismissed for 210 after winning the toss and electing to bat, but they bowled and fielded exceptionally well to restrict England to just 120 in reply.
Importantly, the Kiwis claimed a bonus point for their first win of the series and moved ahead of England on the tri-series table.
Inspired by an incisive opening spell by Franklin (3-17), and some typically clever bowling by cagey spinner Daniel Vettori (4-24) later in the England innings, the Kiwis notched their first win of the series at a crucial time.
Franklin arguably cost his side an upset win over Australia on Sunday when he dropped a simple catch, but against England he put his side on the path to victory with a three-wicket opening spell.
After Kiwi all-rounder Jacob Oram celebrated his return from a hamstring injury by making a bold 86 to enable his side to recover from 67-5 to make a decent total, Franklin struck three key blows to remove England’s top three.
Bowling a steady line outside off stump and angling it dangerously across the right handers, the left-armer overcame the disappointment of having a caught behind appeal incorrectly turned down to remove openers Mal Loye (8) and Andrew Strauss (19), along with Ian Bell (2).
England temporarily recovered through Ed Joyce and Paul Collingwood, before Vettori turned the screws by claiming the vital wickets of Collingwood (10) and England skipper Andrew Flintoff in quick succession with his cunning variation.
Flintoff had seen his side home in a tense run chase against the Black Caps a week earlier and had bowled superbly during the New Zealand innings with 4-21.
But he succumbed to a rush of blood, charging down the wicket at Vettori and getting a thin edge through to wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum, who claimed the catch at the second attempt.
England were 92-5 and, with Flintoff gone for nine, in deep trouble.
Oram capped a man-of-the-match performance by removing Paul Nixon cheaply, before Mark Gillespie leapt high to drag in an outstanding catch to remove Joyce (47) off the bowling of Vettori to seal England’s fate, as they were 107-7.
Unlike Sunday’s game against Australia, the Kiwis did not miss a chance in the field, while England only had two batsmen score more than 10 in a poor effort.
Earlier, Oram’s 86 was the backbone of the New Zealand total as he celebrated his recall with his highest score in one-day internationals.
The big man faced just 89 balls, hitting six fours and two sixes.
They were like chalk and cheese in their approach, but Oram and McCullum combined to haul their side back into the contest after another top-order collapse.
Oram and McCullum were perfect foils for each other, putting on 120 for the sixth wicket after coming together at 67-5.
McCullum was content to work singles and turn the strike over to his partner, while Oram made light of his recent lack of cricket with some powerful strokes.
The pair were the only Kiwi batsmen to make a serious contribution.
The Kiwis were in early trouble against some disciplined England bowling, particularly by Flintoff, who maintained his pace at about 150kph.
Captain Stephen Fleming’s form slump continued when he fell in Flintoff’s first over for 20 and his dismissal sparked a collapse.
Collingwood took catches to remove Peter Fulton (24) and Ross Taylor (15) and trapped Craig McMillan lbw for just two.
McCullum then joined Oram and the pair set about rebuilding the New Zealand innings. — AFP
