CRICKET/Triangular International Series:This was how the tour of Australia was meant to be: exceptional captaincy by Michael Vaughan, inspirational fast bowling from Andrew Flintoff and, at the end of a taut and compelling contest, victory by 14 runs for an England side who found their nerve when it mattered.
Until New Zealand's collapse, five wickets disappearing within six desperate overs, the bookmakers had consistently made them the overwhelming favourites to reach the three-match final, but it was England who progressed, an England who, dare it be said, have begun to look vigorous and resilient, aware of their strengths and limitations and capable of responding with spirit.
It has been a long time coming, but it is welcome nonetheless. Melbourne, on Friday, will view them with something approaching respect.
England were repeatedly up against it here, three down for 52 on a good batting surface, only for Paul Collingwood and Andrew Strauss, two senior batsmen who had been entirely out of sorts, to fashion a recovery. Collingwood, back to his blue-collar best, struck 106 from 121 balls and later bowled his medium pace with great deliberation to ensure that England made the doughtiest use of what Vaughan later accepted was a good toss to win.
But they were even more at sea after unsophisticated new-ball spells from Liam Plunkett and Sajid Mahmood: New Zealand raised 53 within seven overs, with wides scattered like confetti, before Flintoff pegged back the advantage.
Vaughan's return had begun disastrously with a first-ball duck, bowled by Shane Bond's inswinging yorker, but his captaincy was at its most perceptive. He leant heavily on Flintoff and Monty Panesar, supporting them with intelligent, aggressive fields, and England conceded only 37 runs from 10 overs of power plays to drag themselves back into the match. It was a masterpiece of manipulation.
Stephen Fleming's first ODI century for three years should have prompted a New Zealand triumph.
Instead, by the time he was eighth out, 19 balls from the end, his innings of 106 from 149 balls carried the stench of impending defeat. Flintoff managed only one wicket but it was the most symbolic, Fleming thrashing and Paul Nixon - who had dropped him off Collingwood on 37 - clutching the edge.
After an opening stand of 81 in 13 overs the game had been New Zealand's for the taking. Fleming, whose previous best in the series had been 29, had dragged himself into a semblance of form. But Peter Fulton, too two-dimensional to bat at number three, made a static 12 from 30 balls before skying Plunkett to cover, and Fleming ran out his in-form team-mate Ross Taylor.
Scott Styris played too conservatively, Jacob Oram, who likes time to settle, had none to find his range and Plunkett's return accounted for him and Brendon McCullum. The pitch freshened for Flintoff as night fell and the last over was reached with New Zealand needing 20 off Mahmood - too many.
Guardian Service
England
E Joyce c McCullum b Franklin 26
M Vaughan b Bond 0
I Bell c Styris b Bond 12
A Strauss b Styris 55
P Collingwood b Bond 106
A Flintoff c Franklin b Bond 17
J Dalrymple not out 29
P Nixon b Gillespie 0
L Plunkett not out 15
Extras (lb4 w3 nb3) 10
Total (7 wkts, 50 overs) ... 270
Fall of wickets: 1-1 2-28 3-52 4-155 5-191 6-250 7-251.
Did not bat: S Mahmood, M Panesar.
Bowling: Franklin 8-1-45-1, Bond 10-2-46-4, Gillespie 10-0-52-1, Oram 7-0-36-0, Vettori 6-0-37-0, Styris 9-0-50-1.
New Zealand
L Vincent c Flintoff b Panesar 31
S Fleming c Nixon b Flintoff 106
P Fulton c Bell b Plunkett 12
R Taylor run out 25
S Styris c Panesar b Collingwood 16
J Oram c Nixon b Plunkett 5
B McCullum b Plunkett 2
D Vettori c Vaughan b Collingwood 10
J Franklin not out 22
S Bond not out 8
Extras (b1 lb3 w15) 19
Total 8 wkts (50 overs) ... 256
Fall of wickets: 1-81 2-107 3-169 4-203 5-208 6-212 7-224 8-232.
Did not bat: M Gillespie.
Bowling: Plunkett 10-0-60-3, Mahmood 10-0-62-0, Flintoff 10-3-37-1, Collingwood 10-0-46-2, Panesar 8-1-38-1, Dalrymple 2-0-9-0.
England beat New Zealand by 14 runs.
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