Alastair Cook hopes England’s bowlers will turn the screw on New Zealand again in Saturday’s one-day international decider at Auckland.
Cook says his pacemen’s performances in the opening overs at Napier yesterday were the best he has seen and they could hold the key to the visitors winning the three-match series, which is all square after yesterday’s eight-wicket victory.
Though Ross Taylor and Brendon McCullum piled on the runs in the middle of the Kiwis’ innings, skipper Cook said: “The first 12 overs were probably the best I can remember from our bowlers.
“Steven Finn and James Anderson really set that tone and we put them right on the back foot. Because we had that great start, we felt that whatever runs they got we’d be okay on a cracking batting pitch.
“McCullum got them up to a defendable total but I thought if we kept wickets in hand we were very comfortable in chasing it.”
Jonathan Trott, who returned to the side this week with back-to-back half-centuries after being rested, was also full of praise for the bowlers, with Anderson taking five for 34.
He said: “It’s important when you win the toss and decide to bowl first that you set the tone and our opening bowlers certainly did that — Finny and Jimmy did really well.
“McCullum played a fantastic innings but we held together and bowled them out for what was an achievable total.”
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