Cricket: Low-key Franklin leads demolition

By MARK GEENTY

DURHAM - Three weeks ago, James Franklin was running around a sleepy cricket oval somewhere in Lancashire, making plans for a European holiday.

Yesterday, he was clutching a magnum of champagne after being named man of the match in New Zealand's seven-wicket demolition of England.

The magnitude of the turnaround was not lost on Franklin, 23, after his career-best figures of five for 42 ushered in a woeful England batting collapse of 101, which New Zealand overhauled in the 18th over of their tri-series one-dayer.

Bar the first two washouts of the series, it was his first one-day international in two years since he was sent out to pasture after 24 one-dayers for his country, and previous-best figures of three for 44.

"I wouldn't have believed this three weeks ago - I played a game for Rishton on a Sunday and then on a Thursday I was playing a test match," Franklin said.

"It's all quite bizarre. It's been a whirlwind few weeks, that's for sure."

The result set New Zealand on their way at last - after eight weeks of under-performance and injury woes - registering their first win over England on tour.

They now have three days to prepare in Cardiff for their weekend double-header against the West Indies and England. The latter are bottom of the table and will likely miss the final of their own tournament with another loss.

Coach John Bracewell, who has now guided the one-day side to 10 wins from their last 12 matches, said Franklin's harsh early introduction to international cricket was the key to his performances now.

The tourists plucked him from the Lancashire league when Daniel Vettori then Kyle Mills were injured during the tests, and he was not even ranked among New Zealand's top-20 contracted players before this tour.

"He may have been picked too early and this team may be picking up the benefits of James' earlier experience, which is making him more of a man to deal with IN international cricket than he once was," said Bracewell.

Captain Stephen Fleming won the toss and put England in to bat, and the new opening pair of Jacob Oram and Franklin had the batsmen darting about with swing and seam.

Oram bowled superbly, ending with three for 23 off 10 overs.

Franklin enjoyed his first wicket the most, that of England captain Michael Vaughan, whose side were later booed off the field by some in the 14,000-strong crowd.

Debutant wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins took three catches, including two off Franklin, who was typically understated.

"I didn't feel that great in my run-up. In between the wicket balls there were a few loose ones in there.

"When it's your day, it's your day, and you've got to take your wickets. I thought I've bowled better in the last three weeks."

At 65 for seven, England were on track to beat their lowest one-day score of 86 against Australia, and Franklin was on a hat-trick in his 10th over, bowled all in one spell.

Set to become the second New Zealand player after Danny Morrison to take a one-day hat-trick, he had a huge lbw appeal against Darren Gough turned down by England umpire Jeremy Lloyds.

"I thought it was a reasonable shout," said Franklin, "but after seeing it on the big screen you could see all three stumps."

- NZPA