Kiwis edge last-ball thriller - Sport in brief - Evening Standard
       

Kiwis edge last-ball thriller

New Zealand claimed a sweet one-wicket victory at the Brit Oval after relations with England soured drastically.

With two runs required, last man Mark Gillespie hit the ball to cover and set off for a run, Graeme Swann fielded and shied at the stumps at the bowler's end, missing those who had gathered to collect and allowing their opponents an extra overthrow.

Earlier their run chase was embroiled in controversy after Grant Elliott was run out following a collision.

With 26 runs required, Elliott was knocked to the floor by bowler Ryan Sidebottom, who ran across the batsman's path to field the ball in his follow-through.

Elliott had bottom-edged into the pitch and was called through for a single by eighth-wicket partner Kyle Mills.

With Elliott poleaxed by the inadvertent body-check, Ian Bell swooped to throw to Kevin Pietersen, who removed the bails at the bowler's end.

Then, after a few minutes delay while Elliott lay receiving treatment, England captain Paul Collingwood spurned the opportunity to withdraw his team's appeal.

Under the laws of the game, a captain has that right to do so with the umpire's consent but failure to invoke it left New Zealand 220 for eight in the 44th over - and the Black Caps' senior players Daniel Vettori and Scott Styris fuming on their dressing room balcony.

Both players vented their frustration at England's adjacent dressing room.

Just a week ago, Vettori was angered by English 'gamesmanship' at Edgbaston, where New Zealand were denied a win by rain coming six balls before a result could be secured. The tourists, who go 2-1 up in the series with one to play.

Sport in brief in Pictures

Don't Miss
Dog save the Queen: Corgis surge in popularity

Dog save the Queen

Corgis surge in popularity
London gets ready for the Diamond Jubilee - in pictures

Diamond Jubilee

London gets ready - in pictures
'He’s a better ex than he was a husband', says Boris Johnson's ex wife

A better ex than husband

We talk to Boris Johnson's ex wife
TV Baftas - in pictures

Best of the Baftas

Stars on the red, white and blue carpet
You big softie: Has Giles Coren put down his poison pen?

You big softie

Has Giles Coren put down his poison pen?
Pop star Paloma Faith, former Labour minister and Tory blogger back gay marriage video

Gay marriage

Pop star, former Labour minister and Tory blogger back gay marriage video
Promethipedia: the lowdown on Ridley Scott's new blockbuster Prometheus

Promethipedia

The lowdown on Ridley Scott's new blockbuster Prometheus
Prints charming: patterned trousers for summer

Prints charming

Patterned trousers for summer
Bob Geldof on grandchildren, activism and the state of music

Grandpa Bob

Bob Geldof on grandchildren, activism and the state of music
The Middletan: Kate Middleton has the most requested tan in London

The Middletan

Kate Middleton has the most requested tan in London