**Official** England in New Zealand

[Richard]

Collingwood on during Powerplays. Wonder, will he swing it as he did (for possibly the first time in his career) in 2001\02?

 

[Richard]

Candi Staton at the cricket. There's something I never thought I'd hear.

And another four to How. And another pull...

 

[Richard]

Half-century to McCullum. Still doesn't look quite what I'd call fit, but 50 from 49 isn't to be complained about.

Currently averaging over 50 since his latest attempt at opening in ODIs.

 

[KiWiNiNjA]

How is doing a good job. Is picking up boundaries frequently enough to keep up a decent strike rate.

Jeez, must be the slowest 50 McCullum has hit for a fair while. Only at a run a ball :o
Even then, he always scores so quick and you hardly even notice it. Shows how well he uses the strike he gets.

 

[Richard]

Collingwood nicks 2 overs for 4 at the end of the Powerplays. Mascarenhas now on.

As Soft Cell becomes the music of choice.

 

[KiWiNiNjA]

Half-century to McCullum. Still doesn't look quite what I'd call fit, but 50 from 49 isn't to be complained about.

Currently averaging over 50 since his latest attempt at opening in ODIs.

Yip, its either out in single figures or a 50. Thats why I believe McCullum should be an opener. I'd rather have him score good at the top than score 25 ball 50's at the bottom. We have Oram for that

 

[Richard]

Finally, Collingwood struck into the stands, twice in consecutive balls. Fairly top-edgeish, but there were plenty that went that way off Collingwood's own bat.

How completing his half-century.

 

[Smudge]

Mustard's cries of "Catch" are getting pretty tedious pretty fast. Particularly as How deposits Collingwood into the stand twice in a row.

 

[Somerset]

Jamie How!! 50 up from 46, never thought I'd see the day he made 50 at better than a run a ball. Two thumping sixes of Collingwood too, who'd just bowled a couple of very cheap overs.

 

[KiWiNiNjA]

How going at a better rate than McCullum? :-o

Who would thunk it?
Still a long way to go, but a good start to the chase. Good platform. But wickets are key.

 

[Richard]

Mustard's cries of "Catch" are getting pretty tedious pretty fast.

As were McCullum's earlier. As are those of near enough every wicketkeeper in games like this.

 

[Richard]

182 from 26. As Owais Shah comes on. I've yet to revise my statement in the SL tour thread that I can bowl better than him. Surprise surprise, he gets gifted a wicket. McCullum gone for 58.

 

[KiWiNiNjA]

Mustard's cries of "Catch" are getting pretty tedious pretty fast.

Yeah, is pissing me off too.

 

[Somerset]

Damn, McCullum gone to Owais Shah... :S Gee whats happening here?!

 

[Smudge]

As were McCullum's earlier. As are those of near enough every wicketkeeper in games like this.

I didn't see the first innings. And it seems to me that Mustard is cut from the same yappy cloth as Paul "****wit" Nixon. Must be an English thing.

 

[Richard]

Nope, wicketkeepers from most places are annoying mofos.

 

[Somerset]

Mustard's cries of "Catch" are getting pretty tedious pretty fast. Particularly as How deposits Collingwood into the stand twice in a row.

Agreed its pretty bad but IMO no comparison to Mushfiqur Rahim...

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Haha gun.

 

[KiWiNiNjA]

Bugger!
Taylor in?

This will be an interesting period of play.

 

[James]

This series reminds me of the Com Bank Series in Australia last summer. England have a shocking start but come back strongly and end up winning the tournament. Same could happen here, but with a series win obviously.