England bowlers bounce back

England clawed their way back into the must-win contest against New Zealand at the Gabba after an initial lack of discipline in the field relinquished the advantage.

A dozen runs were given away wides in as many overs, with the first over of the innings - sent down by Liam Plunkett - stretching to 11 deliveries.

England captain Michael Vaughan's tactic of delaying the powerplay periods until the 15th over did the trick, however, as only 37 runs were scored. As a result, with 20 overs remaining, New Zealand required 121 with eight wickets in hand.

Given a helping hand by the English profligacy with the ball, Black Caps openers Stephen Fleming and Lou Vincent scored in excess of six an over in the initial stages, as they set about their target of 270.

They were parted when Vincent went aerial against Monty Panesar but only succeeded in spiralling the ball to Andrew Flintoff at mid-on.

That left New Zealand 81 for one in the 14th over, yet England might have been in a stronger position if wicketkeeper Paul Nixon had not put down Fleming, unbeaten on 36, off Paul Collingwood in the previous over.

It proved costly as Fleming got to a half-century and ploughed on into the 70s with some handsome driven fours.

Number three Peter Fulton got bogged down by England's best two bowlers - Flintoff and Monty Panesar - and perished in trying to break the shackles when a top-edged pull off Plunkett spooned to cover.

Earlier Collingwood struck 106, his third one-day hundred for England. He repaired the damage to the innings alongside Andrew Strauss as the pair shared a 103-run stand, having come together at 52 for three in the 14th over.

Vaughan's return after a torn hamstring lasted just one ball, however. Vaughan was bowled by Shane Bond's first legitimate delivery of the match, a perfectly-pitched inswinging yorker.