Kiwi skipper Vettori insists: We won so let's move on from Colly-gate and concentrate on the cricket

The Kiwis were initially incensed when Elliott was dismissed and left injured on the ground after being shoulder-charged by England paceman Ryan Sidebottom as he set off for a quick single.

VIDEO: Watch the runout incident here

Collingwood was offered the chance to withdraw England's appeal by the umpires but, after consulting with Sidebottom, he was satisfied the collision had been an accident and a fuming Elliott was given out.

Crash: Ryan Sidebottom goes flying after colliding with Grant Elliott

Bang: Sidebottom and Elliott go to ground

Wallop: Kevin Pietersen runs out the stricken Elliott while Sidebottom appeals

First aid: Sidebottom and England skipper Paul Collingwood look to help Elliott after the runout

The tourists had the last laugh, though, with 11th batsman Mark Gillespie scrambling two off the last ball to give his side a one-wicket win and a 2-1 lead in the series amid wild celebrations.

And Collingwood's admission to Vettori and the New Zealand players that, in hindsight, he had made the wrong decision has calmed down a potentially powder-keg atmosphere ahead of the final match at Lord's on Saturday.

Vettori said: "Firstly, I'd just like to apologise for my reactions and some of our team's reactions at the end of the game. They were probably a little bit over the top.

"You saw us after the result and it took a while for us to calm down and for clear minds to prevail in the end. It wasn't the way we wanted to act as a New Zealand team.

Are you sure you want to go through with this? Umpire Mark Benson asks Collingwood if he would like to withdraw his appeal

I don't believe it: Elliott looks back in anger on the long walk back

"But hopefully we've got there in the end and I've spoken to Paul Collingwood about it and coach Peter Moores.

"I was incensed with what happened and the whole group of players were. We couldn't understand it, sitting up there on the balcony.

"But Paul has come and spoken to us, apologised and acted in a contrite way. We'll move on from the situation and hopefully it doesn't happen again.

"Paul said he had a split second to make the decision and I understand he's admitted it was the wrong one to make and I suppose, because we've won the game, we'll move on a lot quicker.

"But also the fact he's apologised and admitted he is wrong means we can move forward and head to Lord's in the right spirit. Now we know these things can't happen in the future."

Collingwood conceded he would have acted differently in hindsight. He said: "In the heat of the moment, a quick decision had to be made. Both players collided. I asked Siddy (Sidebottom) if he was going for the ball and he said 100 percent that he was and that there was no intent or anything like that.

But it all ends happily for Elliott's batting partner Kyle Mills who celebrates the winning runs

"The umpires asked if I wanted to uphold my appeal and, after what Siddy said, I said 'we are still appealing'.

"When you are in the heat of the battle like that, you've got to make a decision. I've never been in that position before as captain.

"It is a difficult one to make and in hindsight when you come off the pitch, or when I go back to the hotel room, I'll probably put my hand up and say I probably made the wrong decision.

"That is something I'll have to cope with and have to live with. I apologised to the New Zealand lads, we've shaken hands and hopefully there are no relationships in danger."

Collingwood admitted he would have looked back with little satisfaction had England snatched victory after the Elliott incident.

He said: "For us to scrap back and defend 245 would have left us pretty delighted immediately after the game.

"But I think as captain if we had won, I would certainly have looked back at the game and there would certainly have been a bad taste in my mouth."