**Official** England in New Zealand

[Richard]

Quick note that Collingwood has smashed five sixes but is yet to hit a boundary four.

There's another one. This is obscene.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Haha, another 6.

 

[Richard]

Fastest ever ODI half-century, apparently.

 

[Richard]

I'll take the pin-and-eyes-closed approach and guess at 331 for however-many.

Shame I didn't say "for after 49 overs".

Ryder should've bowled more!!!!!

 

[James_W]

Fastest ever ODI half-century, apparently.

Jayasuriya has hit one off 14 balls I think...

 

[Somerset]

Fastest ever ODI half-century, apparently.

Fastest from an English player - 24 balls.

 

[Richard]

Jayasuriya has hit one off 14 balls I think...

17, so they say. Finished with 76 from 28 balls.

His team were all out for 172.

 

[Somerset]

Jayasuriya has hit one off 14 balls I think...

17 balls: http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/content/records/284095.html

 

[andyc]

Jayasuriya has hit one off 14 balls I think...

Yeah, wouldn't be anywhere near it. Would say it was the fastest for an Englishman but Botham might have that. Will check.

Edit: Meh, beaten to it

 

[James_W]

17 balls: http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/content/records/284095.html

Dammit.

4 byes, awful.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Fastest ever ODI half-century, apparently.

Knows his stuff does Dicko.

 

[Richard]

Cracking catch to finish the innings. Just what NZ needed.

Well, just 5 runs off the last over ITE. And 4 byes too.

 

[Richard]

Knows his stuff does Dicko.

I was merely repeating something said by Paul Allott. Hence the "apparently".

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Kiwi's would chase this if England fielded in yellow and green.

 

[superkingdave]

340/6 then...will be an interesting chase, unfortunately i have a job interview so i won't be able to see it

Highest non-minnow 50 over score for England

 

[Somerset]

England finish on 340/6 - their third highest total against any side in ODIs.

Great catch from Fulton to end the innings.

New Zealand's bowling was quite average, O'Brien shocking, Vettori was dominated. They will need an immense effort chasing this afternoon, someone in the top four needs at least a century and another player needs a 75-80...as well as other contributions throughout the order, much like the Chappell-Hadlee if we are to have a chance.

 

[James_W]

All in all, well done England. Mustard finally came off at the top of the innings, and Bell went at an SR of over 100. :O

 

[Richard]

So, Martin 10-70-1, Oram 7-43-0, O'Diren 6-59-1, Vettori 9-66-2.

 

[Somerset]

So, Martin 10-70-1, Oram 7-43-0, O'Diren 6-59-1, Vettori 9-66-2.

Remember that Martin had Cook dropped early and he deserved better figures. Oram wasn't bad but seemed unable to trouble the English batsmen. O'Brien...umm....Vettori was taken to and the English played him well, though I'm sure he'll be able to bounce back from that.

 

[Richard]

Would have been more interesting if McCullum had taken that chance. The first slip of an utterly lackadaisical performance. Maybe it'd just have turned-out that the second would have been the first instead.

But maybe it'd have been totally different.