England innings report: 209-7

New Zealand won the toss and decided to field, in the hope that they could take advantage of the pitch and the early morning moisture following heavy rain that delayed the start.  They chose well, Ed Joyce went in the first over swiping unnecessarily at a rank wide ball from James Franklin. 

Unpredictable pitches mean that you have to be correct in your technique and play straight, England seemed to forget this with both Bell and Vaughan following Joyce to the pavilion wafting outside off or attempting to pull.  Enter Kevin Pietersen, who did seem to know what was required as he hit most of his 60 runs straight down the ground. His partnership with Collingwood steadied the England innings, before Collingwood got out caught by McCullum playing another cross-bat shot attempting to steer it to third man. 

England then did one of their regular implosions. Pietersen inexplicably chipped a regulation ball slowly up to mid-wicket, where the fielder had a chance to tie his shoes before taking such an easy chance.  It is because of his tendency to hit over the top too much that I feel he will not be a star in this tournament. Flintoff then went first ball to a clever slower delivery by Shane Bond and Dalrymple soon followed, feathering a benign looking ball behind. What is the point of Jamie Dalrymple by the way?

England were then at 138-7, and frankly in deep shit.  Enter Paul Nixon and Liam Plunkett, and I was about as hopeful as Roland in a fight against Gripper Stebson.  How wrong I was.  Nixon batted superbly to score 42 not out off 41 balls, aided brilliantly by Plunkett's brisk 29, to bring England to a final total of  209-7.  Paul, I take it all back mate, I'm big enough to admit when I'm wrong..

This figure looks under-par to me, but not so under par as to be impossible to defend, we shall see.   Once again the middle and top order was appalling, same old story really.  [lee calvert]