Oval clash in the balance

12 April 2012

Half-centuries from Owais Shah and Ravi Bopara left New Zealand chasing a target of 246 to win Wednesday's NatWest Series clash with England at The Oval.

Paul Collingwood's side were generally kept on a tight rein by the Kiwis after being put into bat by Daniel Vettori with Kevin Pietersen making a duck.

Paceman Tim Southee was again the pick of the New Zealand bowlers as he followed up his four for 38 at Bristol with three for 47.

After reaching 41 without loss from nine overs, England lost two wickets in the space of five balls including star batsman Pietersen.

Kyle Mills made the first breakthrough when Luke Wright fell to a stunning one-handed catch by Ross Taylor at short mid-wicket after making 18 off 29 balls. Pietersen, meanwhile, lasted only two balls before falling to Mark Gillespie for a duck.

The Hampshire batsman aimed to pull a ball of extra bounce and only succeeded in top-edging a skier to Southee, who ran around from mid-on to take the catch.

Opener Ian Bell, after making 46 from 56 balls, tried to steer Southee down to third man but only succeeded in edging through to wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum.

The departure shortly afterwards of skipper Paul Collingwood left England in trouble at 101 for four. He bottom-edged a delivery from Southee onto his stumps after making 14.

Bopara and Shah needed to rebuild the innings and were initially circumspect but gradually opened up to post a half-century stand off only 67 balls. Bopara grew in confidence and reached his half-century off 69 deliveries with six boundaries.

But the return to the attack of Gillespie accounted for Bopara on 58 as he was deceived by a slower ball, which he clipped to Jacob Oram at mid-on. And England's hopes of some late order big hitting were wrecked when Shah (63) was run out.

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