New Zealand build on their fine home run

Still, New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming said the “nervy win” brought him great relief. “Brilliant to get the two points in the bank,” Fleming said. “The first game could have a massive bearing on the next stage. To win it was a great relief.”

Sent in to bat after overnight rain delayed play, England recovered from a shaky start to be in good shape with Kevin Pietersen (60) and Paul Collingwood (31) sharing an 81-run fourth-wicket stand. But Collingwood’s dismissal to Styris triggered a collapse, with three big wickets—Collingwood, Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff—falling in seven deliveries for one run.

New Zealand were in disarray early. Lou Vincent, Ross Taylor, Fleming falling for low scores. Styris then combined with McMillan first and then with Oram to see them through.

Scoreboard

England: Ed Joyce c McCullum b Franklin 0, M Vaughan b Franklin 26, I Bell c McCullum b Oram 5, K Pietersen c Franklin b Bond 60, P Collingwood c McCullum b Styris 31, A Flintoff c Styris b Bond 0, J Dalrymple c McCullum b Styris 3, P Nixon not out 42, L Plunkett not out 29

Extras (2lb, 4w, 7nb): 13; Total (for 7 wkts, 50 overs): 209

Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-30, 3-52, 4-133, 5-133, 6-134, 7-138.

Bowling: J Franklin 9-0-43-2, Shane Bond 10-1-19-2, Jacob Oram 6-0-25-1, Jeetan Patel 8-0-42-0, Daniel Vettori 10-0-53-0, Scott Styris 7-0-25-2

New Zealand: L Vincent c Nixon b Anderson 0, S Fleming c Joyce b Anderson 0, R Taylor c Flintoff b Plunkett 7, S Styris not out 87, C McMillan c Dalrymple b Panesar 27, J Oram not out 63

Extras (2b,11lb,11w,2nb): 26; Total (for 4 wkts, 41 overs): 210

Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-3, 3-19, 4-72

Bowling: J Anderson 8-0-39-2, L Plunkett 7-0-43-1, Andrew Flintoff 8-1-17-0, Paul Collingwood 3-0-20-0, Monty Panesar 10-0-47-1, James Dalrymple 4-0-29-0, Kevin Pietersen 1-0-2-0

Man-of-the-match: Scott Styris