New Zealand stay on track for Semi finals

Article Published: Tuesday 29 September 2009
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New Zealand stayed on course for a place in the ICC Champions Trophy semifinals, reducing England to 146 all out in the 44th over of the first innings in the deciding Group B encounter at the Wanderers on Tuesday afternoon.

If the Black Caps win, they will join England in this weekend's playoffs, but if they lose will need to maintain a high run rate to prevent Sri Lanka from going through.

Former South African Grant Elliott led the New Zealand attack after skipper Daniel Vettori won the toss and chose to field.

The seamer returned career-best one-day international figures of four for 31, while Shane Bond picked up three for 21, giving the Black Caps a modest target of 147 runs for victory.

Pacemen Kyle Mills and Bond combined well to have England reeling at 13 for three in the sixth over with the dismissals of skipper Andrew Strauss, his opening partner Joe Denly and Owais Shah.

Paul Collingwood attempted to revive the innings with 40 off 58-balls, after he was given a life by Vettori, but got little support from Eoin Morgan who was at the crease for an hour, facing 40 balls for his contribution of nine in a 37-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

There was some confusion in the 11th over when Collingwood, on 14, left a Kyle Mills delivery and then strolled out of his crease.

New Zealand wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum threw down the stumps and the Black Caps appealed. Collingwood was given out by the third umpire, but after further discussion, Vettori sportingly withdrew the appeal and shook hands with the batsman.

After Morgan's pedestrian effort was ended by Ian Butler, with Ross Taylor taking a fine catch that had been deflected off McCullum's glove, Ravi Bopara looked ready to settle in and build a decent partnership.

But Collingwood mistimed an Elliott delivery in the 26th over, lofting it to Taylor who took a one-handed overhead catch at midwicket.

After Collingwood was removed, Bopara put up a fighting 30 off 51deliveries but Elliott ripped through the lower order to deny him any support.

Bond had Bopara trapped leg-before in the 35th over, and Ryan Sidebottom (20) and James Anderson (four not out) kept the tail wagging with a stubborn 29-run stand for the 10th wicket before Vettori wrapped up the innings to place his side firmly in the driving seat.