dipu
02-06-2013, 06:34 PM
Martin Guptill continued the form he showed at Lord's - making use of a reprieve handed to him on 13 - with an unbeaten half-century as he and Kane Williamson gave New Zealand a strong foundation at the Ageas Bowl. The second-wicket stand of 120 put the visitors on track for a substantial total in ideal batting conditions even though Williamson fell to Graeme Swann.
James Anderson made an early breakthrough for England, knocking back Luke Ronchi's middle stump, to move to within two of overtaking Darren Gough as their leading ODI wicket-taker. Tim Bresnan, who is waiting for news of when his wife goes into labour, was also economical with the new ball as England kept control during the first Powerplay but that wasn't to last.
Guptill should have fallen for 13 but was dropped at midwicket by Jonathan Trott when he pulled Chris Woakes. It was not England's only lapse as poor ground fielding also gave away runs. Woakes, who also suffered when Guptill was dropped at Lord's early in his hundred, delivered another expensive opening spell, which went for 29, as New Zealand's second-wicket pair increased the tempo.
On a lightning-fast outfield, both Guptill and Williamson timed the ball beautifully square of the wicket - particularly off the back foot - although Guptill nearly picked out mid-off when he drove Woakes uppishly but it would have taken a super-human leap from Alastair Cook to intercept.
Joe Root was the first spin option used by England and when Swann did come on his first ball was crunched through cover by Guptill on his way to a 61-ball fifty. Guptill had a few moments of fortune shortly afterwards, getting an outside edge through the vacant slip area off Swann and then top-edging a pull off Jade Dernbach which looped over midwicket.
Williamson, who fell for a duck two days ago, completed an unfussy half-century off 59 balls, his tally of three fours highlighting the efficient running which kept the pressure firmly on England - a point hammered home when Guptill dismissively pulled Woakes for six off the front foot - before Williamson bottom-edged a pull off Swann into his stumps.
Despite the defeat at Lord's, England retained an unchanged team which meant no debut for Boyd Rankin after he was called into the squad to cover for the injuries to Stuart Broad (knee) and Steven Finn (shin). New Zealand rested Tim Southee which gave Doug Bracewell and opportunity.
If New Zealand secure the trophy here it will be England's first home series defeat since losing 6-1 to Australia in 2009.
England 1 Alastair Cook (capt), 2 Ian Bell, 3 Jonathan Trott, 4 Joe Root, 5 Eoin Morgan, 6 Jos Buttler (wk), 7 Chris Woakes, 8 Tim Bresnan, 9 Graeme Swann, 10 James Anderson, 11 Jade Dernbach
New Zealand 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Luke Ronchi (wk), 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Grant Elliott, 6 Brendon McCullum (capt), 7 James Franklin, 8 Nathan McCullum, 9 Doug Bracewell, 10 Kyle Mills, 11 Mitchell McClenaghan
James Anderson made an early breakthrough for England, knocking back Luke Ronchi's middle stump, to move to within two of overtaking Darren Gough as their leading ODI wicket-taker. Tim Bresnan, who is waiting for news of when his wife goes into labour, was also economical with the new ball as England kept control during the first Powerplay but that wasn't to last.
Guptill should have fallen for 13 but was dropped at midwicket by Jonathan Trott when he pulled Chris Woakes. It was not England's only lapse as poor ground fielding also gave away runs. Woakes, who also suffered when Guptill was dropped at Lord's early in his hundred, delivered another expensive opening spell, which went for 29, as New Zealand's second-wicket pair increased the tempo.
On a lightning-fast outfield, both Guptill and Williamson timed the ball beautifully square of the wicket - particularly off the back foot - although Guptill nearly picked out mid-off when he drove Woakes uppishly but it would have taken a super-human leap from Alastair Cook to intercept.
Joe Root was the first spin option used by England and when Swann did come on his first ball was crunched through cover by Guptill on his way to a 61-ball fifty. Guptill had a few moments of fortune shortly afterwards, getting an outside edge through the vacant slip area off Swann and then top-edging a pull off Jade Dernbach which looped over midwicket.
Williamson, who fell for a duck two days ago, completed an unfussy half-century off 59 balls, his tally of three fours highlighting the efficient running which kept the pressure firmly on England - a point hammered home when Guptill dismissively pulled Woakes for six off the front foot - before Williamson bottom-edged a pull off Swann into his stumps.
Despite the defeat at Lord's, England retained an unchanged team which meant no debut for Boyd Rankin after he was called into the squad to cover for the injuries to Stuart Broad (knee) and Steven Finn (shin). New Zealand rested Tim Southee which gave Doug Bracewell and opportunity.
If New Zealand secure the trophy here it will be England's first home series defeat since losing 6-1 to Australia in 2009.
England 1 Alastair Cook (capt), 2 Ian Bell, 3 Jonathan Trott, 4 Joe Root, 5 Eoin Morgan, 6 Jos Buttler (wk), 7 Chris Woakes, 8 Tim Bresnan, 9 Graeme Swann, 10 James Anderson, 11 Jade Dernbach
New Zealand 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Luke Ronchi (wk), 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Grant Elliott, 6 Brendon McCullum (capt), 7 James Franklin, 8 Nathan McCullum, 9 Doug Bracewell, 10 Kyle Mills, 11 Mitchell McClenaghan