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ADELAIDE - With some big swishes of the bat and a milestone wicket, Jacob Oram trumpeted a new phase in his cricket career at the Adelaide Oval yesterday.
In his 87 previous one-day internationals it's doubtful the big allrounder played a more crucial role as New Zealand overtook England on the tri-series points table to revive their summer with a 90-run win.
"I just came back and did my job. It was sink or swim and thankfully I swam," he said.
There was plenty riding on his international return which was delayed by yet another injury, this time to a hamstring, as he played his first ODI since early November.
With New Zealand potentially at their lowest ebb for several years at 67 for five and staring down the barrel of five consecutive losses in World Cup year, Oram took charge as he has only done sparingly in the past.
He passed 50 for just the fourth time, hit six fours and two sixes, but didn't go crazy, and on departure in the 48th over he had 86 off 89 balls and New Zealand a score of 210 to defend.
Remarkably for a player with three test centuries, his previous best ODI score was 81 against Australia in Pune, India, in 2003, and a batting average of 18.68.
Those numbers saw him described in a local newspaper preview as "the poor man's Chris Cairns".
"It would have been nice to come out at 220 for four with a few overs left and just smash it, but in a way it wasn't a bad situation to be thrown into," Oram said.
"I know it's an average average for where I bat and I'm not trying to hide away from that. I know I've got skills and it's almost like I'm starting over again -- 18 or 19 (average) is not very good at all but I've got to work on it and hopefully today was the start of many more."
Oram, 28, felt few nerves and had miles on the clock for Central Districts as the national selectors took the cautious approach with one of their valuable World Cup assets.
"I felt match fit and ready to go. If anything the pressure was coming back in after an injury, it wasn't about performing well and proving I was ready to come back."
On a variable pitch New Zealand fancied their chances of defending 210 after their own batsmen's struggles.
They never relinquished control. Oram made some spectacular saves at gully then was effective with the ball as he experienced another big moment, his 100th wicket when he had Paul Nixon caught behind.
"It's been a long time coming. The last 15-20 wickets have taken a bit longer than I would have hoped for. I come from a batting background rather than bowling -- I used to play against Dan Vettori in under-16s and under-18s I never even bowled -- so who would have thought.
"It's been a lot of hard work and sacrifices and unfortunate time on the couch with injuries. At least I've got there, and whatever happens from there I've managed to get to triple figures."
James Franklin took the first three then the big guns fired, Vettori starred with four for 24 and Shane Bond took the final two to join Oram on 100 wickets.
New Zealand now travel to Perth for a double-header against Australia on Sunday and England on Tuesday.
Captain Stephen Fleming wasn't rejoicing yet, due to his and Nathan Astle's struggles for batting form, but felt it could be enough to spark some momentum.
"It's been tough, we've been frustrated and we're not out of it. It's only one win and it was a scrappy win," Fleming said.
"It hasn't solved any problems, certainly with the bat, but a win's a win and that's what we're savouring because it can lead to other things."
- NZPA
