SUPERB EFFORT: Nathan Astle pulls off a brilliant catch to signal the end of Monty Panesar. — PHOTO: AP

ADELAIDE: At last, and we have waited a long time, New Zealand has begun to show signs of the form that makes it an outsider to lift the World Cup. New Zealand's hero as it beat England by 90 runs in a low scoring match — aggregate runs 330 - was Jacob Oram, who has missed the early matches of tri-series.

It lies second in the table and appears to be improving although how it will now deal with Australia remains to be seen. Oram made 86 batting at No.6 as his side struggled to 210 in a game dominated by the bowlers.

"I was pushed in at the deep end which probably made it easier," explained the big man who averages a shade over 18 in his career and who also reached 100 wickets in one-dayers on Tuesday.

Haunting memories

New Zealand's modest score seemed to be an easy target for a side as strong as England; except that we all know that it is not resilient any more after a Test series that has destroyed its spirit.

Besides there was always the memory of what happened on this ground on the final day of the second Test. That wretched afternoon England turned a safe draw into defeat by six wickets with as feeble an exhibition as anyone can remember. It marked the start of the 5-0 whitewash. That and the defeat to New Zealand will haunt England for years.

Letting the game drift

Its performance here was just as appalling. It let New Zealand off the hook at 67 for five as Oram began his 89-ball innings but at the end two superb overs from its captain Andrew Flintoff disposed of the last five batsmen for 23 runs in 22 balls. Of course he is too much for the average tail-ender to handle and that spell — 2-0-6-3 — ought to have been the inspiration for his batsmen to wrap up victory.

Instead they all dithered as James Franklin combined line and length and enough movement to undermine batsmen as out of form as Andrew Strauss or as inexperienced as Mal Loye. When he added Ian Bell to his bag Franklin had taken three for nine in 14 balls and the danger was obvious. The wreckage was shored up by the best innings of his short career at the top by Ed Joyce who made 47; but by the time he was brilliantly caught on the boundary by a tumbling Mark Gillespie England was in deep trouble at seven for 107.

Familiar sight

Daniel Vettori and Shane Bond, who also captured his 100th victim in this game, finished England and once again we had the familiar sight of English batsmen doing what they do best — congratulating their opponents on a famous victory. Afterwards Stephen Fleming remarked on the surge this victory will give to its push for success both in Australia and in the World Cup.

It is trying to build an effective squad of 15 and according to Fleming: "We have done smart things off the pitch but not performed to our potential in matches."

The Kiwis have left Oram to get fit in his own time and that has worked; a piece of strategy that will only receive its due if Fleming has the World Cup in his hands. Flintoff promised his men would work hard until their performances improved but how can they? Their immediate bulletin after the game ended when they collapsed in the 38th over was simple.

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