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| Sunday, 24 February 2002 |
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England beat New Zealand to set up tense one-day finale AUCKLAND Feb 23 (AFP) - England captain Nasser Hussain endured a mixed day after his side levelled the one-day series with New Zealand in Auckland but key batsman Michael Vaughan picked up a shoulder injury. A 33-run win via the Duckworth/Lewis method saw England square the series at 2-2 and set up a tense decider in Dunedin on Tuesday, but Vaughan could be ruled out of the clash after landing heavily while attempting to take a catch. Vaughan had earlier marked his return to the side with a classy 59 before being run out by Daniel Vettori. The Yorkshireman vindicated the decision to select him ahead of Owais Shah with an exciting innings that included eight fours and a six. He then took two catches as England reduced New Zealand to 42-3 chasing 223 for victory, but Vaughan's injury curse returned as he was led from the field after trying to take a Craig McMillan skier. Vaughan, whose international career has been punctuated by a string of injuries, will have a scan on the shoulder on Monday to ascertain the extent of the damage. "It's part of international sport that you get injuries and it's obviously disappointing for Michael, and come tomorrow I'll probably be disappointed too," said Hussain. "It's part of the game though. People throw themselves around in the field and get injuries. Unfortunately it was Michael today. "He played pretty well in India and I don't think anyone doubts Michael Vaughan's class. We gave him a rest because we wanted to give Shah a couple of games as he's got something about him, but Duncan and I have always been trying to get Michael in the one-day side. He had a fabulous net on Friday and we just looked at each other and said he had to play. It was hard on Shah but Michael took his chance." Graham Thorpe was again the mainstay of the England innings as he compiled an unbeaten 59 between two lengthy stoppages for rain. The match was reduced to 40 overs a side and England's 193-6 was revised to give New Zealand a tough target of 223. Andrew Flintoff bowled beautifully to take 4-17 as New Zealand floundered in front of a bumper crowd at Eden Park with Chris Cairns' 58 the only highlight for the home side. New Zealand were dismissed with two overs remaining as England made it two wins in four days and fly south to Dunedin aiming to repeat their comeback in India. "We played poor cricket in Christchurch and were awful in Wellington," Hussain said. "We have done well here but it doesn't mean we are World Cup favourites all of a sudden. New Zealand keep coming at you and we have got a lot of work to do if we are going to beat them in the next game. "If we do all our disciplines well then we can beat New Zealand but we are still a little bit clumsy at times." New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming has seen his side squander the 2-0 advantage they built up a week ago, but believes they can win the series at Carisbrook next week. "We had a good week last week and they had a good week this week," he said. "It's all down to Tuesday and it's very important we win. The momentum is with England but that can change quickly and it will. "I will be positive in the dressing room because that is the only way to be. We are desperate to win this series and we tend to play a lot better when we are desperate. Perhaps we are not used to being in the comfort zone of 2-0 up." |
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