Cricket
England win to level series
2013-02-20 10:45
Napier - A five-wicket haul for James
Anderson backed by a dominant England batting display set up an eight
wicket win over New Zealand in the second one-day international in
Napier on Wednesday.
Facing a series defeat after an upset loss in
the first match in Hamilton, England bounced back after standout
performances from Anderson and up-and-coming batsman Joe Root.
England's
top order rose to the occasion, with half centuries to captain Alastair
Cook (78), Jonathan Trott (65) and Root (79), the 22-year-old tipped as
a future star.
But the foundation for England's victory came from
a miserly five for 34 from Anderson, who swept through New Zealand's
batters to restrict the home side's total.
His scalps included
both the Black Caps opening batsmen and a rejuvenated Ross Taylor, whose
century late in New Zealand's innings threatened to set England a
formidable total, along with a quickfire 74 from 36 balls from Brendon
McCullum.
The Black Caps made a slow start after being sent into
bat on a tame wicket, all out for 269 after 48.5 overs, with England
reaching the target of 270 after 47.4 overs.
Missing injured
opener Martin Guptill, New Zealand were pedestrian, with the first
boundary coming when Hamish Rutherford pulled a delivery from Anderson
in the fifth over.
Anderson dismissed openers BJ Watling (7) and
ODI debutant Rutherford (11) cheaply as New Zealand's frustration
mounted and the home side were on just 22 runs after 12 overs.
Kane
Williamson and Ross Taylor gradually increased the run rate, putting on
72 runs together to take the Black Caps to 91 before Williamson (33)
dragged a ball from Chris Woakes on to his stumps to again slow the
host's momentum.
New Zealand's struggle was apparent when Taylor,
in his best performance since returning to the international fold after
being axed as captain late last year, brought up his half century off 81
balls with only three fours.
Backed by McCullum, his successor as
captain, Taylor notched a century off 116 balls with a four but was
dismissed by the next delivery he faced.
The New Zealand tail failed to fire, leaving England with a tricky but achievable target.
England's
Ian Bell and Alastair Cook made a brisk start to the run chase with an
opening partnership of 89 in the first 20 overs before part-time spinner
Williamson dismissed Bell for 44.
The England batsman attempted
to cart Williamson's delivery over mid-wicket but was out when Hamish
Rutherford made an athletic dash to catch him on the boundary.
Cook
brought up a chanceless 50 from 67 balls, including five fours and one
six, bit he was dismissed on 78 after hitting the ball straight back
down the wicket to Tim Southee.
Trott and Root then combined the
see England home, with Root displaying a wide variety of shots ranging
from authoritative drives to risky reverse sweeps.