Collingwood drama proves 50 overs are still a draw

When the dust had settled and England were forced to contemplate a tie that leaves them with just a share of this five-match series to play for in the final match in Christchurch on Saturday, Collingwood could look back on the contradiction of both a missed victory and a great escape.

Fall guy: Paul Collingwood is prostrate on the ground at the end of the match after missing with a last-ball run out attempt

England's James Anderson (left) celebrates his run out in the last over

Luke Wright holds his head as he watches the Kiwis scored some runs of his first and the game's final over

England looked certain winners after they had smashed their way to the third-highest total in their limited-overs history.

But so expertly judged was the New Zealand run chase and so perfect the McLean Park wicket that in the end it was Collingwood who could be the more satisfied captain.

Not that he felt that way after failing to run out Kyle Mills by the narrowest of margins with an under-arm throw from close on the offside as the Black Caps scrambled a single off the final ball of Luke Wright's only over.

It saw them match England's 340 but fail to secure the series-winning victory that seemed certain.

'I can't believe I missed,' said Collingwood, the most reliable fielder in the England side.

'We were pretty much dead and buried with six overs to go but when you miss the stumps like that, you think you should have snatched it.

'It was a horrible feeling knowing I could have won it but I guess we'll take the tie. It was probably the right result.'

Where to begin with such an eventful game that almost matched the classic at the Oval last September when India pipped England in another high-scoring epic?

This will certainly go down as one of the finest one-day matches.

There was the sight of Phil Mustard finally firing at the top of the order, hitting 83 in a first-wicket stand of 158 with Alastair Cook that justified England's faith in this contrasting opening pair.

Jamie How hits out on his way to a superb 139 for New Zealand

Then there were high quality contributions from Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell before Collingwood seized the stage with a 24-ball 50 — beating Andrew Flintoff's previous England quickest by four balls — which included six sixes smashed over the short square leg-side boundary at this rarity, a picturesque New Zealand rugby ground.

Big innings: Phil Mustard scored his first international half century

Yet if England felt the job was done they had only to remember losing the last two one-day matches in which they have scored 300-plus.

England wicketkeeper Phil Mustard narrowly fails to run out New Zealand's Daniel Vettori

And so hard and true was the Napier wicket that bowlers had no margin of error, as it should be in one-day cricket.

New Zealand chased down 347 to beat Australia in Hamilton last year and are more comfortable batting second.

So perfectly paced was their reply, led by Jamie How's first century in one-day international cricket, that England soon feared this would not be their day.

They did not help themselves in the field. Collingwood's decision making was uncertain, Jimmy Anderson was at his most infuriating in his first six, wayward overs and Mustard undid much of his good work with the bat during a sloppy display of wicketkeeping that saw him drop a catch, miss two stumpings and fumble an easy run-out chance as the match neared its climax.

Yet, when all seemed lost with New Zealand needing just 33 from the last five overs with five wickets in hand, England produced their best bowling and fielding of the match.

Having produced an outstanding catch to dismiss Jesse Ryder, Anderson redeemed himself with nearperfect death bowling and the lion-hearted Ryan Sidebottom completed an admirable spell of one for 45 in 10 overs.

Collingwood was left needing to find one more over from a lesser bowler, having gambled on his big guns putting the match out of New Zealand's sight.

Step up Luke Wright. New Zealand needed seven to win but the Sussex hitter produced a near-perfect over and the Kiwis could only muster six, losing How to a run-out.

England missed two other opportunities to hit the stumps with the batsmen out of their ground.

'I told Luke he would have the last over when there were four to go,' said Collingwood.

'He had a big smile on his face and said "I can't wait". I told him I wanted yorkers and he said "Which stump?". That's the kind of character he is. He loves the big stage and he pretty much nailed each ball.'

That, however, was not quite enough for England.

Yet, after the embarrassment of their opening two defeats, they will be more than content to go to Christchurch with the series still alive.