Pre-game: Weather report , Pre-toss , Toss , England innings: 15 overs , 30 overs , End of innings , New Zealand innings: 15 overs , 31 overs , End of game ,. Darren Gough had threatened to undo the best start New Zealand had to a match since last summer when taking four wickets in 11 balls. Astle stood firm while the carnage occurred in the 29th and 31st overs. It was only when he was joined by Andre Adams that some relief came and the score moved past They saw off Gough who ended with four for 44 from his nine overs, four of them in 11 balls.
Adams broke the stranglehold with a four hit straight back past Gough, who wisely got out of the way. Then in the next over bowled by Ashley Giles, he ruined his figures by hitting a huge six into the Hadlee Stand. When Astle swung a ball from Andrew Caddick off his hip for four runs he brought up his half century, a subdued affair by his own standards, but useful for New Zealand under the circumstances. It came off 92 balls and included six fours. He followed it with a shot that was slightly squarer for four next ball.
Adams clearly signalled his continued intentions when he charged Andrew Flintoff every ball faced when he returned for his eighth over. He finally succeeded with a big money shot with a drive over point for four.
The end came quickly as Nasser Hussain ran out of bowling options and when Andrew Caddick came on to bowl the 39th six runs were needed with 24 balls to spare. Astle took a single off the second and then Adams blasted a shot over extra cover which only took some checking to see where it had landed before it was signalled a six to win the game with 21 balls to spare.
Gough was the most successful of the England bowlers with four for 44 while Giles was the most economical with none for 28 off nine balls.
