Rampant England post huge total

The Durham all-rounder hit the quickest ever half-century in a one-day international by an England player, reaching the milestone off only 24 balls, to help the tourists post a commanding 340 for six after being put into bat in the fourth one-day international of the series.

It was England's third highest score in history and their biggest since recording 391 for four against Bangladesh at Trent Bridge in 2002 - their best ever total - and established them as firm favourites to claim victory and level the series with one match remaining. All England's top five batsman scored 40 or more while Luke Wright pitched in with a quickfire 24 off 13 balls at the end which enabled the tourists to add 101 runs off the final 10 overs, with Collingwood finishing unbeaten on 54 off only 30 balls.

The tourists had stuck with the same line-up which triumphed in Auckland on Friday and kept the series alive, and they enjoyed a superb start with Alastair Cook and Phil Mustard sharing a 158-run opening partnership. England's opening pair had been under pressure having averaged only 22 together in their previous eight outings and were given an early reprieve with Cook edging seamer Chris Martin behind on two only for wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum to drop a regulation catch.

That escape enabled both Cook and particularly Mustard, who claimed his maiden one-day international half-century, to punish New Zealand's bowling during the early overs of fielding restrictions.

Both players seemed in sight of deserved centuries when despairing New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori turned to part-time medium-pacer Jesse Ryder to try to break their partnership in the 27th over of the innings.

Ryder, who grew up playing cricket across the road at Nelson Park, responded by dismissing Mustard with his fifth ball when Durham's wicketkeeper-batsman was caught at long-on after hitting 83 off 74 balls.

Cook followed with his next delivery - bowled playing across the line to a seaming delivery which hit his middle stump - for 69 which left Ian Bell and Kevin Pietersen with the responsibility of rebuilding the innings.

They added 74 in only 12 overs before Bell holed out to deep mid-wicket for an impressive 43 and Pietersen followed four overs later, bowled by Vettori attempting to slog across the line having hit 50 off 47 balls. Owais Shah also fell in the deep attempting to score quick runs in the closing overs, but Collingwood and Wright combined superbly in a 49-run partnership spanning only 25 balls.

Collingwood took a particular liking to the main stand at McLean Park and pulled five sixes into it, including one which hit the roof and rebounded back onto the playing area. Wright was dismissed off the final ball, caught in the deep, but by then England had exceeded all expectations on a flat and bouncy pitch and given themselves every chance of levelling the series to set up a decider in Christchurch on Saturday.