England v New Zealand

At Bristol, July 4. New Zealand won by six wickets. New Zealand 5 pts, England 1 pt. Toss: New Zealand. One-day international debut: S. I. Mahmood.

In contrast to their previous two heavy defeats, England could not be over-blamed for losing once Vaughan lost the toss on a bowler-friendly morning. That they got as many as 237 owed much to Flintoff, who recorded his first one-day international hundred in his 73rd appearance. His first fifty took 80 balls, his second 38, and he added 122 in 25 overs with Strauss. Both were reprieved early on by Marshall, and Flintoff 's inauspicious beginning continued when he was struck on the helmet attempting evasive action against Butler. But he held on until the last over, hitting 11 fours and two sixes in all. Fleming and Astle, with exactly 400 one-day appearances between them after this game, opened New Zealand's reply with 122, and Marshall added 55 from 51 balls. The debutant Sajid Mahmood, from Lancashire, went for eight an over. It was not until Fleming reached 99 that New Zealand looked vulnerable. Then three wickets fell; he ran out Marshall before Styris and Fleming himself perished against Collingwood. But their side was already about to breast the tape.

Man of the Match: S. P. Fleming. Attendance: 14,895; receipts £392,746.