**Official** New Zealand in England

[profernity]

I dunno, SA miscalculating a Duckworth/Lewis target maybe...that seemed pretty ludicrous to me. Take your point though, I know I was being extrrreeeeemmmmely optimistic about England's chances.

 

[grecian]

Well the kiwi fielders are trying to make it interesting....

 

[KiWiNiNjA]

Pretty poor fielding effort from NZ in the last 20 or so minutes.

 

[Somerset]

New Zealand's fielders giving away a few freebies here; if England were 20-25 runs closer to the target might be important. They need a really massive over - a 20 or 24 run over in the next 15 minutes or the match is gone.

 

[Somerset]

Regarding the keeper, you'd have to say that Mustard averaging 23 and not dropping anything looks like something of a golden age right now.

What was the official reason behind him being dropped anyway? I remember at Napier he made about 70-odd in pretty quick time. Keeping was adequate as you mention.

 

[Somerset]

Game certainly New Zealand's now with Broad's dismissal.

 

[profernity]

Shah being abandoned by his team here.

 

[grecian]

Game certainly New Zealand's now with Broad's dismissal.

Hmm, been New Zealands since KP got out imho.

Shah will be safe for a while, I think, considering two fifties in a row. Also so many other more worthy droppable options.

 

[Somerset]

Shah's timing the ball brilliantly at the moment. As I said before Broad went, a 20 or 24 run over and there might've been a close finish.

 

[grecian]

Shah's timing the ball brilliantly at the moment. As I said before Broad went, a 20 or 24 run over and there might've been a close finish.

Nah, if it had been close Owais would of thrown it away by now.

 

[Somerset]

Hahaha...I say hes timing it well and Shah departs..another wicket for Tim Southee.

 

[profernity]

Shah finally out, caught by Marshall off Southee, and that's the end of that.

 

[wpdavid]

Shah gone.

Congrats to NZ, who have increasingly outclassed us since the first game. The fact that we're absolutely ****e doesn't alter the fact that NZ have done a thoroughly professional job. I'm very jealous.

 

[wpdavid]

Hmm, been New Zealands since KP got out imho.

Shah will be safe for a while, I think, considering two fifties in a row. Also so many other more worthy droppable options.

To be discussed in depth, I'm sure. afaics the obvious candidates are Wright & Cook. Not that the others are convincing, but there's never much to be gained by wholesale changes when we haven't a clue who might be a better bet anyway.

 

[Somerset]

And that's that! Very pleased with the efforts from the NZ side since the opening ODI, deserving of the ODI series.

Southee must surely get MoTS after another three wickets today.

Even Bracewell has a smile on his face...

 

[BoyBrumby]

What was the official reason behind him being dropped anyway? I remember at Napier he made about 70-odd in pretty quick time. Keeping was adequate as you mention.

If memory serves Miller said something like he wanted to have the same keeper in all formats. Wrong-headed thinking for me because some batsmen are clearly more adept in one format or the other, so logic dictates keepers (who're mainly judged on their batting in the abbreviated form, unless their keeping descends to Prioresque levels of inadequacy) can be equally so. Ambrose (just about) gets a pass-mark in tests, but has been rank in the shortened form.

Imagine Prior will probably get another go in ODIs next, what with him being a Sussex man & all.

Anyway, fair play to NZ. Showed a lot of ticker with limited playing resources & thoroughly worthy winners. We were gash, obviously, but you can only beat what's stuck in front of you.

 

[profernity]

Styris gets MOTM, Southee MOTS. Fair call, with 13 wickets @ 18.23.

 

[GGG]

God Nasser Hussain is a knob end, should of beaten us in the ODI series? Sorry but man for man who in the england ODI team would make our ODI team, Pieterson, Bell and Shar anyone else?

 

[Raghav]

That was sensational victory....

Well done Blackcaps

 

[Prince EWS]

This is so dire. Have keenly followed each match of the series... and then Fox show the decider on delay. Really glad to pay my money for that. Am writing an email.

I've sent them so many angry emails over the last couple of years on this subject that they actually informed me not too long ago that my email address had been put in the filter and will be forwarded to spam. Not the wisest thing to tell a paying customer, but that's Foxtel for you...