The Hindu : Sport : Controversy spoils New Zealand’s win

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Controversy spoils New Zealand’s win

Ted Corbett

LONDON: Controversy spoiled the end of the England-New Zealand fourth one-day international at the Oval when the all-rounder Grant Elliott, who was promising to win the game for the Kiwis, was knocked over by the bowler Ryan Sidebottom following through and given run out when England appealed. Elliott was flat on the pitch when the bails were removed.

It clearly angered Elliott and it looked as if umpire Mark Benson offered England the chance to withdraw the appeal. Paul Collingwood turned to his players but the appeal was continued and Elliott trudged off. Kyle Mills hit Collingwood for six — measured at 106 metres — and with three needed off the last over New Zealand won from overthrows.

England was bowled out for 245 on a bright, batsman’s heaven of a pitch without even batting through the full 50 overs. By the time Ryan Sidebottom and James Anderson, the final pair, were together the Oval crowd — not normally so vociferous — was clapping ironically, cheering edged fours through the slips and generally voicing its displeasure at one of the most wretched batting performances in a long history of England failure at limited overs cricket.

It began at the top of the order where Luke Wright is learning his craft and is still guilty of attempting to cure all ills with a big shot. Perhaps it was the example of the steadier Ian Bell who took advantage of a no-ball from Mark Gillespie to free hit the ball into the crowd at cover. Wright was brilliantly caught by Ross Taylor at short mid-wicket at 41 but Bell batted sensibly for 46 off 59 balls while Kevin Pietersen flayed at his second ball and was caught at mid on.

If Pietersen has the excuse that he has already made runs in this series what followed was inexcusable. Bopara struggled throughout the 78 balls he needed to accumulate 58 and Collingwood tried another muscular escape from what he obviously felt was an iron grip. Thus four wickets were down for 101. Bopara was caught at 176 after a fifth wicket stand of 75 with Shah and when Tim Ambrose, Graeme Swann, Shah and Stuart Broad were out in five overs for 25 runs England’s defeat looked inevitable.

SCOREBOARD

England: I. Bell c McCullum b Southee 46, L. Wright c Taylor b Mills 18, K. Pietersen c Southee b Gillespie 0, R. Bopara c Oram b Gillespie 58, P. Collingwood b Southee 14, O. Shah (run out) 63, T. Ambrose c Flynn b Oram 6, G. Swann c How b Mills 3, S. Broad c How b Southee 5, R. Sidebottom (not out) 8, J. Anderson (run out) 11; Extras: (lb-4, w-6, nb-3) 13; Total: (in 49.4 overs) 245.

Fall of wickets: 1-41, 2-44, 3-81, 4-101, 5-176, 6-203, 7-219, 8-221, 9-228.

New Zealand bowling: Mills 10-1-44-2, Gillespie 9.4-2-58-2, Southee 10-1-47-3, Oram 10-0-46-1, Vettori 8-1-34-0, Elliott 2-0-12-0.

New Zealand: J. How c & b Swann 37, B. McCullum c Swann b Sidebottom 1, R. Taylor c Broad b Sidebottom 6, S. Styris (run out) 69, D. Flynn c Bell b Swann 12, J. Oram c sub b Anderson 38, G. Elliott (run out) 24, D. Vettori c Bopara b Collingwood 6, K. Mills (not out) 25, T. Southee (run out) 6, M. Gillespie (not out) 4; Extras (b-4, lb-3, w-11): 18; Total (for nine wkts. in 50 overs): 246.

Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-24, 3-83, 4-106, 5-173, 6-178, 7-189, 8-220, 9-230.

England bowling: Sidebottom 10-0-55-2, Anderson 10-0-39-1, Broad 10-0-39-0, Wright 2-0-8-0, Swann 10-1-49-2, Collingwood 7-0-40-1, Bopara 1-0-9-0.

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