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Jesse Ryder announced his international arrival in resounding style but Brendon McCullum would not be upstaged as New Zealand pounded England into submission to win the rain-affected second one-day cricket international by 10 wickets at Seddon Park in Hamilton tonight.
A devastating display of power hitting by the duo allowed New Zealand to motor past England's woefully inadequate 158 and even though the Duckworth Lewis system increased the Black Caps' target by seven runs - it was purely academic with the belligerent openers rewriting the record books as the home side romped to a 2-0 series lead.
Their unbroken stand of 165 in just 18.1 of the 36 allowable overs eclipsed the New Zealand record for all wickets against the English, succeeding the 160 compiled by Martin Crowe and Geoff Howarth at Eden Park in 1984.
The milestones came thick and fast as Ryder and McCullum peppered the boundaries and, on seven occasions, the crowd.
Ryder, in his second ODI, was named man of the match on the back of a captivating 79 studded with 11 boundaries and two sixes - there was even intelligent placement, when required as he reached 50 off 39 deliveries.
McCullum hit an unbeaten 80 - off a mere 47 balls - ending the contest prematurely with his eighth boundary.
He chalked up his 50 off 27 balls, with an audacious reverse sweep bringing up his 10th ODI half century.
After a resurgent bowling performance proved the catalyst for England losing their last eight wickets for 73 runs in 20 overs after a 2-1/2 hour rain delay, Ryder and McCullum smashed the English attack with a contemptuous hitting display reminiscent of Craig McMillan's assault during the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy finale at the same ground 12 months ago.
McCullum was party to that stunning eclipse of 346 and tonight had another pugnacious ally alongside as New Zealand complemented their comfortable six-wicket win in Wellington on Saturday with an even more effortless run chase.
New Zealand ticked off the first 50 off 39 balls, a relatively pedestrian rate compared to what was to follow as the pair plundered a bemused attack that drew ironic applause from their supporters on the rare occasion they delivered a dot ball.
Needing to emulate their hosts' performance with the ball, England never threatened and when McCullum was dropped off the first legitimate delivery he faced by 'keeper Phil Mustard - and Ryder was missed at slip by Owais Shah when eight runs into his assault - the tourists were destined to pay dearly for those let-offs.
England were dismissed for 158 with five balls remaining in their reduced allocation with the Duckworth Lewis system slightly increasing New Zealand's target.
Jacob Oram and Michael Mason were the stand-out bowlers for New Zealand, however, poor shot selection and abysmal running between wickets were regular features in England's innings.
Solidly placed at 85 for two when their early impetus was curtailed by rain, England dissolved when play eventually resumed, wilting under the pressure of an improved New Zealand bowling display.
New Zealand reacted quickest after the delay, with Oram's pin-point maiden followed immediately by a crucial double breakthrough.
Pace bowler Mason, coming in for Jeetan Patel in the only change in the New Zealand line-up, claimed the prized scalp of dangerman Kevin Pietersen plumb leg before wicket without adding to his 29 - and a ball later captain Paul Collingwood was foolishly run out attempting a second to Oram's exocet arm at third man.
Collingwood, who was also caught short in Wellington, slid in belatedly and was on his knees when Pakistani umpire Asad Rauf raised the finger, neatly encapsulating England's deterioration.
When Owais Shah (0) was deceived by a perfect Mason offcutter, England's rousing pre-rain start was reducing to a trickle.
Oram applied the brakes superbly with his seven overs costing a dozen runs though one Cook boundary was incorrectly classed as byes.
Cook ultimately posted his half century off 65 balls but was needlessly sacrificed three runs later when Ravi Bopara called a suicidal single to Ross Taylor at cover.
A contentious selection ahead of Dimitri Mascarenhas, Bopara (23) failed to atone for his lapse and succumbed to another limp dismissal in the 31st over when he directed a knee high full toss from Kyle Mills down Jesse Ryder's throat at deep square.
England had initially made a spirited start after being asked to bat by Daniel Vettori, with opener Alastair Cook particularly severe on Chris Martin and Mills as he peppered the boundaries with a full array of shots.
Mustard, the designated pinch hitter, was overshadowed until he slapped Martin for six.
However, the rattled right armer gained his revenge a ball later when Mustard drilled a drive to Vettori at mid-off to end the opening stand at 41 in the sixth over.
His replacement Ian Bell followed next ball when his attempt to evade a Martin lifter succeeded only in glancing the face of his bat before Brendon McCullum took an acrobatic one-handed catch in front of first slip.
Pietersen avoided the hat-trick and appeared to be batting England into a position of strength with Cook as the tourists registered a respectable scoring rate of 6.7 runs per over after 10 overs.
The former South African took 15 off one Martin over - including a six and two consummate drives - but his impetus, along with the innings, foundered after the sun returned.
SCOREBOARD
England
A Cook run out (Taylor) 53
P Mustard c Vettori b Martin 13
I Bell c McCullum b Martin 0
K Pietersen lbw b Mason 29
P Collingwood run out (Oram) 1
O Shah b Mason 0
R Bopara c Ryder b Mills 23
G Swann c McCullum b Vettori 1
S Broad c Mills b Vettori 23
R Sidebottom run out (Styris) 2
J Anderson not out 2
Extras (5b, 3lb, 3w) 11
Total: (all out, 35.1 overs) 158
Fall: 41 (Mustard), 41 (Bell), 90 (Pietersen), 91 (Collingwood), 97 (Shah), 121 (Cook), 126 (Swann), 142 (Bopara), 151 (Sidebottom), 158 (Broad)
Bowling: K Mills 6-0-45-1, C Martin 8-0-44-2 (1w), M Mason 7-0-29-2 (1w), J Oram 7-1-12-0, D Vettori 6.1-0-16-2, S Styris 1-0-4-0.
New Zealand (target 165 under D/L system)
J Ryder not out 79
B McCullum not out 80
Extras (4lb, 2w) 6
Total (for 0 wkt, 18.1 overs) 165
Bowling: R Sidebottom 6-1-38-0 (1w), J Anderson 4-0-43-0 (1w), S Broad 3-0-32-0, GH Swann 2-0-27-0, P Collingwood 3.1-0-21-0.
Result: New Zealand win by 10 wkts, lead five-match series 2-0.
- NZPA
