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Cricket

New Zealand fight back to beat clumsy England

21/06/2008

New Zealand have squared the one-day series against England after claiming a tense 22 run win at the County Cricket Ground in Bristol.

The Kiwis were wobbling badly on 75/6 before debutant Grant Elliot (56) and tail-ender Kyle Mills smashed 47 from just 40 balls to guide their team to a below-par total of 182 from their 50 overs.

England got off to a horrendous start in their innings as they were reduced to 64/6 and though Paul Collingwood and Graeme Swann shared in a 65 run seventh wicket partnership, England fell agonisingly short.

It should have been an easy win for England as under cloudy conditions the bowlers did their job to blow away the New Zealand top order.

The dangerous Brendon McCullum was the first to go for New Zealand as he smashed a ball straight at Kevin Pietersen at mid-off off the bowling of James Anderson.

New Zealand lost wickets at regular intervals as Ross Taylor, Scott Styris, Daniel Flynn and Gareth Hopkins all failed to get to double figures.

But England let the Kiwis off the hook and Elliot and Mills worked their team to a total which was defendable.

The 182 New Zealand set seemed like a huge total after teenager Tim Southee 4/38 and Mills reduced England 64/6.

The home side steadied the ship and looked to be set for victory as Collingwood (34) and Swann (29) got England to 129.

But both fell in quick succession and the England tail failed to wag as they were all out for 160.