Kiwis edge last-ball thriller

New Zealand claimed a sweet one-wicket victory at the Brit Oval after relations with England soured drastically.

With two runs required, last man Mark Gillespie hit the ball to cover and set off for a run, Graeme Swann fielded and shied at the stumps at the bowler's end, missing those who had gathered to collect and allowing their opponents an extra overthrow.

Earlier their run chase was embroiled in controversy after Grant Elliott was run out following a collision.

With 26 runs required, Elliott was knocked to the floor by bowler Ryan Sidebottom, who ran across the batsman's path to field the ball in his follow-through.

Elliott had bottom-edged into the pitch and was called through for a single by eighth-wicket partner Kyle Mills.

With Elliott poleaxed by the inadvertent body-check, Ian Bell swooped to throw to Kevin Pietersen, who removed the bails at the bowler's end.

Then, after a few minutes delay while Elliott lay receiving treatment, England captain Paul Collingwood spurned the opportunity to withdraw his team's appeal.

Under the laws of the game, a captain has that right to do so with the umpire's consent but failure to invoke it left New Zealand 220 for eight in the 44th over - and the Black Caps' senior players Daniel Vettori and Scott Styris fuming on their dressing room balcony.

Both players vented their frustration at England's adjacent dressing room.

Just a week ago, Vettori was angered by English 'gamesmanship' at Edgbaston, where New Zealand were denied a win by rain coming six balls before a result could be secured. The tourists, who go 2-1 up in the series with one to play.