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LONDON - A handshake and apology between captains Daniel Vettori and Paul Collingwood quelled a fiery aftermath to New Zealand's one-wicket cricket win over England today after Collingwood had the dressing room door slammed in his face.
A fuming New Zealand side initially refused Collingwood's offer of an explanation after he did not withdraw the appeal which saw a stricken Grant Elliott run out in the fourth one-day international at The Oval.
Elliott attempted a short single but collided with England bowler Ryan Sidebottom and was run out, despite being clearly injured and unable to make his ground.
Umpire Mark Benson sent Elliott on his way after checking with Collingwood to see whether he wanted to continue with the appeal.
Television pictures showed the disgusted reaction of the New Zealand players on the team balcony.
It was the angriest Vettori had appeared in his 11-year international career and he admitted he had never seen an incident like it.
"I was angry, and I think the whole group was. We couldn't understand it sitting up there. I'd like to think it's a decision I'd never have to make," he said.
"The guys were incensed at the time, Paul's spoken to us and apologised and acted contrite, so we'll move on from the situation and hopefully it doesn't happen again."
Vettori also issued his own apology for his side's behaviour after they refused to speak to Collingwood, and he immediately approached the England captain and coach Peter Moores to clear the air.
"Because we won the game we'll move on a lot quicker. Because he has apologised and admitted he's wrong it means we can move forward and head to Lord's (for the series finale) in the right spirit.
"We were incensed and it took us a little while to calm down. Clear minds prevailed in the end. It wasn't the way we want to act as a New Zealand team."
A visibly shaken Collingwood fronted the press conference admitting he was wrong but saying the decision was made in the heat of the moment, with the match going to the wire and the series tied 1-1.
He said Sidebottom had assured him the collision was accidental, but under the laws of cricket the captain can withdraw an appeal.
"When you're in the heat of battle you've got to make a decision like that," he said.
"I've never been in that situation before as captain. It's a difficult one to make and in hindsight I'll hold my hand up and probably say I made the wrong decision.
"It's something I'll have to live with. I apologised to the New Zealand lads and we've shaken hands on the pitch, hopefully there's no relationships dented, everything will be okay."
Elliott was icing a badly bruised thigh but a team spokesman said he was not seriously hurt in the collision with Sidebottom.
- NZPA
