Kiwis stroll to easy victory over England

Published on Saturday 16 February 2002 00:00

ENGLAND today slumped to a comprehensive 155-run defeat by New Zealand in their second one-day international after disappointing with bat and ball under the lights of the WestpakTrust Stadium.

Chasing New Zealand’s 244 for eight - the highest score at the newly-built stadium - England slumped to 89 all out in reply to record their second lowest total of all time in one-day internationals.

From the very start there were concerns from both sides about the state of the wicket, which had been used to stage the World Rugby Sevens only the previous week.

England never recovered from losing Marcus Trescothick to the eighth ball of their reply and were dismissed in 37.2 overs, only just overhauling their lowest score of 86, recorded against Australia at Old Trafford last summer.

New Zealand recovered from a shaky start, with captain Stephen Fleming beginning their comeback with a determined 40 from 61 balls, sharing in a vital 58 partnership after they had slumped to 52 for three.

Once Fleming fell, brilliantly caught by Owais Shah at short leg, McMillan went on to score a superbly-paced 69 from 91 balls.

He was dismissed just seven overs from the end of the innings, but Andre Adams produced a mirror image of his quickfire innings in Christchurch to hit a rapid 25 and help New Zealand add a crucial 79 from the final 10 overs.

England’s innings began badly when Trescothick was controversially given out in the second over, umpire Steve Dunn ruling the England batsman had edged Adams behind.

He was followed five overs later by Nasser Hussain, caught in the gully by Fleming. Nick Knight then chopped onto his stumps attempting to drive Adams. Graham Thorpe was trapped leg before, while Shah and Paul Collingwood fell in quick succession to loose shots.

Andrew Flintoff top-scored with 26, but England lost their last four wickets for 21 runs in just 10 overs.

BATSMAN and former bad boy Ricky Ponting will be the new Australian one-day cricket captain with Adam Gilchrist vice-captain for the tour of South Africa and Zimbabwe, the Australian Cricket Board announced today. The appointments following the axing of Steve Waugh as skipper earlier this week.