RESULT
3rd Match, Hobart, January 16, 2007, Commonwealth Bank Series
(49.5/50 ov, T:206) 206/7

England won by 3 wickets (with 1 ball remaining)

Player Of The Match
72* (75) & 2/37
andrew-flintoff
New
ENG
Full commentary

Well, well, well. England have won a match but, my word, they made hard work of it - unbelievably so. New Zealand bowled so well to restrict them, but England's batsmen appeared to be in a state of sedation until Flintoff came to the crease. He played a magnificent innings, in contrast to the meekness of his team-mates, and that's England's first win, in any form of cricket, since they beat West Indies on October 28 last year. In the end, it was a very exciting finish - and perhaps that'll spark England into life. We hope you've enjoyed our coverage. From me, Will Luke, and Andrew McGlashan, it's good night.

49.5
1
McMillan to Flintoff, 1 run

and Flintoff saves the day, driving this down the ground and England are up and running on their tour of Australia

1 from 2

49.4
McMillan to Flintoff, no run

bump ball! Hit back to McMillan

They could still tie it, mind. 1 from 3

49.3
2
McMillan to Flintoff, 2 runs

on leg stump, a little floater and Flintoff lifts it over the infield - and they pick up two! England cannot lose this match

3 from 4. Flintoff on strike. He and Lewis discuss their share options and favourite artists and suchlike, here comes McMillan, wobbling up to the crease...

49.2
1
McMillan to Lewis, 1 run

and he clunks this to the leg side, to mid-on and they get a single

Flintoff's still at the other end. 4 from 5

49.1
McMillan to Lewis, no run

full toss, slashed to point once more...straight to point

McMillan to take the final over

end of over 492 runs • 1 wicket
ENG: 202/7CRR: 4.12 RRR: 4.00
Jon Lewis1 (4b)
Andrew Flintoff69 (72b 7x4)
Mark Gillespie 6-0-40-1
Craig McMillan 4-0-18-0

Well New Zealand have just the man on strike that they want. Clueless cricket from England

48.6
1
Gillespie to Lewis, 1 run

and it's slashed through the infield and, unbelievably, they take the single!

5 from 7

48.5
Gillespie to Lewis, no run

another dot ball! Again he gives himself room, swings, misses and flies through to McCullum

Fleming's moving the field, just tinkering and wasting time here, making Lewis wait. Canny old fox, Fleming

48.4
Gillespie to Lewis, no run

nearly! Slashes it to Patel at point but it's just short

48.3
Gillespie to Lewis, no run

ooh well bowled! Full and straight, Lewis's legs remain firmly concreted on his leg stump and he pokes this into the covers

Still no slip in...

New Zealand v Flintoff

48.2
W
Gillespie to Dalrymple, OUT

that is some catch by Patel! Some catch indeed. Outside off, Dalrymple slashes at it to the left of Patel at point who dives, and takes it low, behind him. Superb and there's still a twist in this match!

Jamie Dalrymple c Patel b Gillespie 1 (5b 0x4 0x6 3m) SR: 20

5 from 11 and the Barmies are producing a fairly ragged version of the national anthem. Good effort, though.

48.1
1
Gillespie to Flintoff, 1 run

on off stump, Flintoff comes forward and punches it to the bowler's right for a single

end of over 483 runs • 1 wicket
ENG: 200/6CRR: 4.16 RRR: 3.00
Jamie Dalrymple1 (4b)
Andrew Flintoff68 (71b 7x4)
Craig McMillan 4-0-18-0
Mark Gillespie 5-0-38-0
47.6
McMillan to Dalrymple, no run

excellent length and it's punched, or guided, to point

47.5
1
McMillan to Flintoff, 1 run

but it's calmly pushed down to long on

And another man goes out into the deep on the on side

47.4
1
McMillan to Dalrymple, 1 run

too wide and it's angled down to third man

47.3
McMillan to Dalrymple, no run

crashes this into the covers

Packed off side now...in come the fielders like a swarm

47.2
McMillan to Dalrymple, no run

and he defends this on the front foot

"There's a twist in this match," enthuses David Lloyd. "England are playing!" N'er a truer word uttered. Here comes Dalrymple

47.1
1W
McMillan to Nixon, 1 run, OUT

ooh mistimed over cover, that's a poor stroke there but it nevertheless falls safe. They come back for two, oh dear, what's happening here? I think he's run out here! What a dreadful second run that was.

Paul Nixon run out (Vettori/†McCullum) 15 (22b 0x4 0x6 57m) SR: 68.18
end of over 4712 runs
ENG: 197/5CRR: 4.19 RRR: 3.00
Andrew Flintoff67 (70b 7x4)
Paul Nixon14 (21b)
Mark Gillespie 5-0-38-0
Craig McMillan 3-0-15-0
46.6
4
Gillespie to Flintoff, FOUR runs

fine, strong shot from Flintoff, picking this up off a length and it zings down the ground for four

46.5
1
Gillespie to Nixon, 1 run

worked with heavy bottom hand through midwicket

46.5
2nb
Gillespie to Flintoff, (no ball) 1 run

gone! NO! Drama at Hobart! Flintoff tried to swat it over midwicket, skied it to Taylor at long-off. But Steve Davies, the square-leg umpire, adjudged that the delivery was above waist height and, as such, a no ball.

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