New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum acknowledges the crowd after his brilliant innings of 77. Photo / Getty Images
New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum acknowledges the crowd after his brilliant innings of 77. Photo / Getty Images
The New Zealand Herald's expert sports panel provides commentary on all the action at the Cake Tin in Wellington. All times in NZDT. Scroll down for all the stats
6.31pm That's it, folks. New Zealand humiliate England by eight wickets. They've won the game with a staggering 226 balls to spare. Stick around Andrew Alderson's match report, which will be live shortly.
6.26pm - New Zealand 119-2 (11 overs) The Black Caps need just five more for victory. Williamson and Taylor at the crease.
6.17pm - New Zealand 112-2 (9 overs) It had to happen - the Black Caps lose a wicket just after the break. Guptill departs for 22, bowled by Woakes.
A punter celebrated winning his share of a million dollars, without realising his one-handed catch wasn't by the book. The man took the catch off a McCullum six but fumbled the catch. The catch has to be taken one-handed and clean. The crowd behind him knew the rules and looked on in horror as he and his mates celebrated the catch.
You know I'm a true New Zealand cricket fan because I'm still nervous. #blackcaps
6.13pm - New Zealand 112-1 (9 overs) The players are back out on the field after that slightly ridiculous interlude. New Zealand need just 12 more runs for victory. Shouldn't be long, folks!
5.44pm - New Zealand 112-1 (9 overs) Here's the "tea break" report from our man at the ground, Andrew Alderson.
New Zealand are putting together arguably their most uncompromising display in one-day international cricket, demolishing England at their World Cup match in Wellington.
They were 112 for one after nine overs chasing 12 further runs to win when the normal tea-break time was enforced.
Tim Southee produced the best bowling figures by a New Zealander in a one-day international and the sixth best in history with seven for 33 in nine overs to dismantle England for 123 in the 34th over.
It was a superlative performance demonstrating the full breadth of his mastery with the ball and the precision of his wrist position as he toyed with the English batsmen.
The crowd rose in appreciation and chanted "Sou-thee" in way that hasn't been heard since a knight called Hadlee had the two syllables of his surname chanted a generation ago.
Southee underlined his status as leader of the attack. Ian Bell played inside the line, Moeen Ali and James Taylor were yorked, Jos Buttler was enticed to edge behind, Chris Woakes played around another outswinger and Stuart Broad and Steven Finn were caught. He was essentially unplayable as he turned at the top of his mark and brought that rhythmic run-up into combat. It generated batting carnage.
Brendon McCullum followed by hitting the fastest half-century by a New Zealander in an ODI and broke his own record for the quickest at a World Cup, completing the feat in 18 balls. He went on to 77 off 25 before being bowled by Woakes with a full toss.
Fans were in a state of delirium as McCullum pummelled eight fours and seven sixes. The English pace bowlers James Anderson, Broad, Finn and Woakes had no answer. The runs per over in succession went: 9, 18, 10, 20, 10, 29, 9, 4, 3.
Earlier, Harry Houdini would have struggled to get out of the vice-like grip created by New Zealand's fielding display.
The meticulous planning flowed like a symphony in front of a capacity stadium and a few dozen taking in the sights for free from the incumbent cruise liner parked in the harbour.
The controlled aggression was palpable as England were given no room to escape the clutches of the parsimonious bowling and tenacious fielding.
McCullum co-ordinated the dismantlement through shrewd captaincy and omnipresent fielding. If any runs got past him, they must have donned a hat and dark glasses to go incognito.
He backed his bowlers wholeheartedly by stacking the field with catchers and engaging in mental disintegration sans verbals. He had four slips for Trent Boult bowling to Moeen Ali, there was a long leg and deep backward square leg to Joe Root to get him thinking about the inevitable short ball; he closed off the legside to Eoin Morgan from Daniel Vettori.
Then there was the fielding to back up what the bowlers were delivering. The skipper was backed by lieutenants like Martin Guptill and Adam Milne but even 36-year-old Vettori chased balls in the outfield like Jack Lovelock breasting the tape in Berlin.
New Zealand saved at least 20 runs in the field shutting down what looked probably boundaries. England looked like they were stuck at a Queen St intersection trying to cross the road with the traffic lights on the blink.
5.41pm The English cricket media are having a field day with this. Here are some tweets that will give you an idea of the prevailing mood.
5.31pm - New Zealand 112-1 (9 overs) Peculiar situation here. New Zealand only need 12 more runs for victory, but we're having to take a 40-minute lunch break. If you're confused, then let me explain. Becuase NZ bowled England out so quickly, the Black Caps were required to go into bat up to the scheduled break time - that is, when England was supposed to bat to. In that short period NZ scored a staggering 112 runs at 12.44 an over. Brendon McCullum scored an incredible 77 runs off 25 balls before being bowled by Chris Woakes. His half-centry was the fastest in World Cup history. McCullum's innings came on the back of Tim Southee's incredible bowling spell earlier in the day, when he picked up 7-33 off nine overs.
5.21pm - New Zealand 105-0 (7 overs) You have to love English fans. Their team is taking a shellacking here, but they've stayed in fine voice. McCullum is 77 off 24 now. Eight fours, seven sixes. Incredible stuff at the Cake Tin.
5.17pm - New Zealand 96-0 (6 overs) McCullum has just brought up his 50. Now get this - he did it in 18 balls. It is the fastest World Cup 50 in history and the equal third fastest in ODI cricket. This is turning into a glorious and famous day for NZ cricket. In the time that it took me to write that McCullum has raced to 66 off 20. Black Caps only need 28 to win.
5.06pm - New Zealand 57-0 (4 overs) In a word - remarkable. Brendon McCullum has raced to 40 off 17 balls. NZ are going at almost 15 an over. 67 required for victory.
"@DevlinLive: The cricket has put me in such a good mood It's almost got me saying TeamNZ deserve $36mill of our taxes."pull your head in
"Poor old Ingerland just look ... broken," writes Sarah Bacon. "During these semi-seasonal 'off' periods, one could at least depend upon the team nevertheless described as 'plucky', even if 'losers' was dropped into the same sentence. Big sigh. Not really worth the 5am start, sadly. It's one thing to watch England being beaten, but being crushed? Even this Aussie fan is finding it very difficult to swallow. It's just not fun anymore."
4.51pm - New Zealand 19-0 (2 overs) The Black Caps have made a flying start to their chase of England's 123. Guptill and McCullum have both hit boundaries. This could be a ver short game indeed. Stuart Broad is having a day to forget. After a limp batting performance, his first over has just gone for 18 runs. McCullum has raced to 19 off seven balls. NZ needs 97 to win.
4.46pm Here's the report on England's innings from our man at the ground, Andrew Alderson.
Tim Southee produced the best bowling figures by a New Zealander in a one-day internationals and the sixth best in history with seven for 33 in nine overs to dismantle England for 123 in the 34th over of their World Cup match in Wellington.
It was a superlative performance which demonstrated the full breadth of his mastery with the ball and the precision of his wrist position as he toyed with the English batsmen.
The crowd rose in appreciation and chanted "Sou-thee" in way that hasn't been heard since a knight called Hadlee had the two syllables of his surname chanted a generation ago.
Southee underlined his status as leader of the attack. Ian Bell played inside the line, Moeen Ali and James Taylor were yorked, Jos Buttler was enticed to edge behind, Chris Woakes played around another outswinger and Stuart Broad and Steven Finn were caught.
He was essentially unplayable as he turned at the top of his mark and brought that rhythmic run-up into combat. It generated batting carnage.
Harry Houdini would have struggled to get out of the vice-like grip of New Zealand's bowling and fielding display.
The meticulous planning flowed like a symphony in front of a capacity stadium and a few dozen taking in the sights for free from the incumbent cruise liner parked in the harbour.
The controlled aggression was palpable as England were given no room to escape from the clutches of parsimonious bowling and tenacious fielding.
New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum co-ordinated the dismantlement through shrewd captaincy and omnipresent fielding. If any runs got past him, they must have gone incognito.
He backed his bowlers wholeheartedly by stacking the field with catchers and engaging in mental disintegration sans verbals. He had four slips for Trent Boult bowling to Moeen Ali, there was a long leg and deep backward square leg to Joe Root to get him thinking about the inevitable short ball; he closed off the legside to Eoin Morgan from Daniel Vettori.
Then there was the fielding to reinforce what the bowlers were putting down. The skipper was backed by lieutenants like Martin Guptill and Adam Milne but even 36-year-old Daniel Vettori chased balls in the outfield like Jack Lovelock breasting the tape in Berlin.
New Zealand saved at least 20 runs in the field shutting down what looked probably boundaries. England looked like they were stuck at a Queen St intersection trying to cross the road with the traffic lights on the blink.
4.34pm - England 123 all out Milne puts England out of their misery, picking up Joe Root for 46. England are all out for a paltry 123. Tim Southee's 7-33 off nine overs was the third-best figures in World Cup history. Attention now turns to New Zealand's turn at bat. Because England were bowled out so quickly, the Black Caps will bat for a short period up till the scheduled lunch break.
One of the worst, most shambolic capitulations I've seen in 40 years of watching England cricket. I want heads rolling & @KP24 back. NOW.
4.28pm - England 119-9 (32 overs) Southee takes his seventh wicket! What an incredible performance. He now has the third best bowling figures in World Cuo history. This time he has Steven Finn caught at slip. The crowd starts to chat - "Southee, Southee ...". Brings to mind the old days with Richard Hadlee. Great days for NZ cricket. As a foot note, Trent Boult has just finished his spell with figures of 1-32 off 10.
4.19pm - England 116-8 (30 overs) Southee strikes yet again! This time Stuart Broad scoops a catch to Dan Vettori at mid-off. Southee has six wickets now. Broad's innings was an embarrassment. Almost every ball he jumped away to square leg as if he was scared. Bizarre. Hard to think the man has a test hundred.
4.08pm - England 110-7 (28 overs) Southee takes another wicket! The champion swing bowler picks up Jos Buttler. It was vintage Southee - a beautiful line, the ball swining just enough to draw Buttler into the stroke and pick up a healthy edge through to Ronchi. Southee has four scalps now and is on fire. And just as I write this - guess what? Sothee picks up ANOTHER WICKET! This time it was the all-rounder Chris Woakes to go. Yet another unplayable yorker from Southee earns him a superb bag-of-five. Inspirational stuff. In the comm box Shane Warne says "New Zealand all over England like a cheap suit".
3.59pm - England 104-5 (26 overs) Another wicket! This time it's Southee who strikes, picking up James Taylor for a two-ball duck with a superb yorker. Southee has three wickets now and is looking in brilliant form. England look very tentative, very anxious indeed. Root will have to do something special to pull his side out of what is becoming a very deep hole.
3.55pm - England 104-4 (26 overs) Vettori strikes! England captain Eoin Morgan has continued his run of bad form, departing for a workmanlike 17 off 41 balls. Vettori had been at his miserly best, keeping the screws on the English scoring rate, and Morgan decided it was time to pull the trigger. He tried to hit down the ground but Milne took a brilliant diving catch on the boundary.
3.53pm - England 101-3 (25 overs) England bring up their 100 at exactly the halfway mark of their innings. The Black Caps will be happy to have kept the English scoring to a minimum, but Root and Morgan have done a good job here of rebuilding after losing three early wickets. The run rate might be slow, but England will know that if they can keep wickets in hand they can post a competitive total.
This has been an amazing performance in the field from NZ. Whether it's ridiculous diving saves or wonderful catches #special#NZvENG
3.41pm - England 86-3 (22 overs) Joe Root is looking good here. His 34 runs have taken 49 balls, but strike rates aren't the main concern for England at the moment. Root looks unruffled by the situation and is quietly going about his business. Very Kane Wiliamson-esque.
3.28pm - England 71-3 (18 overs) Adam Milne and Daniel Vettori are working in unison now, and the good news for New Zealand is that they're keeping it nice and tight. After 18 overs England are going at a tick under four an over. Vettori seems to be at his crafty best. Neither Root nor Morgan have looked to take him on yet. His variations with the flight and speed of his deliveries is a treat to watch.
3.19pm - England 67-3 (16 overs) Here's what the Herald's Dylan Cleaver thinks about the match so far.
The first 15 overs tells you everything you need to know about the confidence this team has in its game plan and leadership. Brendon McCullum was setting test-match fields and has used Trent Boult up front for an unbroken spell. England are on the back foot at 60-3 and need something a bit special from out-of-form skipper Eoin Morgan.
Vettori's first spell of four overs has gone for 13 runs. England struggling to keep the run rate above four.^AA #cricketfever#nzveng
3.08pm - England 57-3 (14 overs) Boult strikes! Gary Ballance will be kicking himself. It wasn't a particularly threatening delivery. Pitched about halfway down the track, Ballance set himself to pull but the ball just wasn't there for the shot. All he managed to achieve was a bizarre paddle straight to Kane Williamson at a shortish cover point, who took the easiest of catches. It's good reward for Boult, who's into his seventh over on the trot. England captain Eoin Morgan comes to the crease to join Root. Morgan has been in poor form lately, but will have to pull something out of the bag here if he is to steady his side's badly listing ship.
3.00pm - England 51-2 (12 overs) Herald reporter John Weekes is at the ground and has been chatting to some of the punters in that stands.
Tyron Reyes is in the crowd sporting an orange shirts in the hope of taking a one-handed catch and winning big.
He and his partner Annabel Chaston have come down from Auckland for the match. Annabel, originally from England, is still supporting the old country and is hoping the English could strike back today after their thrashing at the hands of Australia.
Tyron is from South Africa and diplomatic about who he was supporting. He's already thinking ahead about what the evening might hold in store.
"If I win $100,000 I'm shouting a whole bar somewhere," he says.
2.53pm - England 44-2 (11 overs) England have started to rebuild after losing two early wickets, but with 10 overs gone they're only going at four-and-a-bit an over. Southee and Boult have done another good job with the new ball. Young speedster Adam Milne comes into the attack now.
2.33pm - England 36-2 (6.2 overs) Southee strikes again! What a brilliant delivery - an in-swinging yorker that totally befuddles Ali. He barely moved his feet at all - just stood there and tried to clamp his bat down, but he was way too late. Young Joe Root comes to the crease.
2.29pm - England 35-1 (6 overs) Near miss. Trent Boult traps Ballance in front. Umpire Rod Tucker says no to the shout, but McCullum goes upstairs for a review. At first blush it looked to be too high and possibly slipping down leg. But the review showed it was very close indeed. Nothing wrong with the line but half the hall was sailing over top. Which in DRS terms means not out.
Southee bowling with four slips. McCullum going for the jugular.
2.22pm - England 23/1 Tim Southee strikes! England lose their first wicket, Bell going for eight off 17 deliveries. It was a peach of a delivery, angling in and straightening just enough to clip the top of off-stump. Textbook stuff from Southee. Bell was drawn into the stroke but there was just enough movement to have Bell playing down the wrong line. Gary Ballance comes to the crease to join Ali.
2.16pm Very even contest at the moment. Boult and Southee are bowling well, getting plenty of swing and hitting the pitch hard. But Ali and Bell look to be in good touch. Bell cut Boult for four and Ali has already pulled Southee to the fence. In between times, both have managed to work singles on a fairly regular basis. New Zealand will do well to take a wicket here.
2.08pm Brendon McCullum is going for all out attack here, fielding no fewer than four slips for Trent Boult's first over. Shane Warne and Ian Botham are in the commentary box, and they are loving McCullum's tactics.
2.02pm Tim Southee has the new ball for New Zealand and is poised at the top of his mark. Ian Bell will face up for England with Moeen Ali at the other end.
Big challenge ahead for left handed Moeen Ali against Trent Boult. Plenty of movement here
1.55pm We're not far away from getting underway. Westpac Stadium looks an absolute picture. The players are singing the national anthems - such a strange sight in cricket.
1.44pm In England, cricket pundit Geoffrey Boycott tells the England team to listen to his advice, even though they probably think he's an idiot. Here's what he has written in the Daily Telegraph UK (it's all about him):
England captain Eoin Morgan says he and the team do not take any notice of what I say. Fine. But instead of trying to be dismissive of what I say maybe they should listen because then they might play better.
I would not keep changing the batting order and, as captain, I would have stopped my quick bowlers bowling half-track rubbish, slower ball off-spinners at the death against Australia. Captaincy is about using your nous and thinking on your feet in tough situations. The yorker is still the hardest ball to hit because batsmen can't get elevation on it if the ball is delivered properly. If you know a short ball is coming you can set yourself to hit 360 degrees but the penny did not drop with our lot.
We will take a win no matter by what margin and if England do beat New Zealand, and our captain makes runs, I will be delighted to praise them.
But do not blame anyone else if you cock up again. Nobody can bat, bowl or field for you and as an England professional cricketer you are paid well to perform on the big stage, so no excuses. As the Nike motto goes: "Just do It".
The modern-day cricketer thinks because we have not played for 25 years that we know nothing about the game. They think cricket has changed so much that we are idiots. But it is still 22 yards, the ball is the same shape and weight. There are still three stumps and two bails.
Do you think I would not have asked Len Hutton for advice because he had not played for years? B----- rubbish. I went to him for advice and knowledge. I used to talk to Jim Laker, what a fantastic mind he had. I wanted to understand how this great bowler used to think when he was bowling at batsmen. That helped me get into a bowler's mind.
Players are so financially well rewarded now, better than ever, that they think it makes them bigger stars than previous generations. The IPL makes them millionaires in no time. It gives them a false impression of how good they are. Morgan has played for lots of teams in the IPL but he has always been the reserve. He has never been the go-to man for any of them. He is just not quite at that top level.
England captain Eoin Morgan has won the toss and decided to bat in the World Cup fixture against New Zealand in Wellington.
New Zealand have two wins from two matches at the tournament. A third victory today would mean they are in a prime position for second place or better in their pool with a pivotal match against Australia to come next Saturday. New Zealand have won nine of their last 11 ODIs at the venue.
Conversely, England need a victory after a 111-run defeat to Australia in their opening match in Melbourne. Not only did they not get any points but they suffered a hit to their net run rate which decides group placings if two teams have the same number of wins at the end of pool play.
Three of the last four ODIs have produced first innings scores in excess of 250. The odd one out was the last match where the New Zealand bowlers restricted Pakistan to 210.
The weather is expected to be fine all day.
New Zealand: Brendon McCullum (c), Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Grant Elliott, Corey Anderson, Luke Ronchi, Daniel Vettori, Tim Southee, Adam Milne, Trent Boult.
England: Eoin Morgan (c), Ian Bell, Moeen Ali, Gary Balance, Joe Root, James Taylor, Jos Buttler, Chris Woakes, Stuart Broad, Steven Finn, James Anderson.
1.29pm So what's at stake? New Zealand have two wins from two matches at the World Cup. A third victory would place them in a prime position to secure second place or better in their pool with a pivotal match against Australia to come next Saturday. New Zealand have won nine of their last 11 ODIs at the venue.
Conversely, England need a victory after a 111-run defeat to Australia in their opening match in Melbourne. Not only did they not get any points but they suffered a hit to their net run rate which decides group placings if two teams have the same number of wins at the end of pool play.
The outcome could be decided by the guile of the pace attacks. Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Adam Milne are likely to be pitted against James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Steven Finn.
Southee has a formidable record of 20 wickets in nine ODIs against England at an average of 22.05 and strike rate of 24.6; Boult has played them once, but they've seen plenty of him at test level; Milne could offer the benefit of a pacey surprise having not met them before.
England's trio have strong records against New Zealand. Each has a better strike rate than their overall career numbers but the drop in bowling average is notable. Anderson's 29.10 average drops to 28.69 in 22 matches against New Zealand but the performances of Broad (29.06 to 24.46 from 16 matches) and Finn (27.55 to 24.42 from four) are more compelling.
1.20pm Welcome to the start of our live commentary. I've started early but I'm excited. First off Criket Cricket thinks New Zealand's winning streak will end today and England will triumph.
The cricket's prediction prowess has been impressive so far, picking three of four matches correctly.
It predicted New Zealand would beat Sri Lanka and Scotland, and that Australia would beat England. However, Cricket wrongly predicted Pakistan would beat India on Sunday.
Not a prediction the Black Caps or the fans will be wanting. Let's hope Cricket Cricket is having an off day.
The bookies on the other hand have New Zealand as favourites, with the TAB paying $1.52 for a Black Caps win as of 3pm yesterday. England were paying $2.55 to win.
TAB said New Zealand were currently second favourites to win the tournament, paying $4. Australia were the favourites at $2.50, while South Africa were the third favourites at $4.50.
