England keep match alive

Cricket/One-day round-up: England kept the five-match series alive by beating New Zealand by six wickets in the third one-dayer in Auckland yesterday.

The visitors, chasing an adjusted victory target, cruised to victory with three overs to spare to cut their series deficit to 2-1.

New Zealand hit 234 for nine in 50 overs but England were set 229 off 47 overs to win after rain interrupted their innings.

Ian Bell top-scored with 73 while captain Paul Collingwood finished unbeaten on 70 to complete a fine double after capturing three wickets with the ball.

England's seamers enjoyed their best day of the series when they ripped through the New Zealand top-order in quick fashion only to come unstuck against Jacob Oram.

The big all-rounder belted four fours and four sixes to crack 88 off 91 balls and help the hosts recover from 95 for six.

Oram, who did not even get a chance to bat in the first two matches, started cautiously but exploded into life after reaching his half-century off 65 balls.

Daniel Vettori chipped in with a valuable 42 off 35 deliveries, featuring four fours and a six, as he and Oram added 74 for the seventh wicket at better than a run a ball. England made a nervous start in reply when the openers went cheaply before Bell and Kevin Pietersen (41) steadied the ship with a third-wicket partnership of 107. Both were eventually trapped lbw by Vettori, leaving Collingwood and Owais Shah (18 not out) to steer England home.

Meanwhile, Adam Gilchrist hit a century in his final hometown appearance in Perth to lead Australia to a 63-run victory over Sri Lanka in yesterday's tri-series match.

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times