incredible finish! New Zealand win, but in an unbelievable fashion. Gillespie connected, and the single was a given, but when the shy came in, there was no-one there to back it up! The ball whizzed away for over-throws, and with Daniel Vettori going ballistic on the balcony, there was no stopping them
England vs New Zealand, 4th ODI at London, Jun 25 2008 - Ball by Ball Commentary
RESULT
4th ODI, The Oval, June 25, 2008, New Zealand tour of England and Scotland
New
NZ
Full commentary
end of over 503 runs
NZ: 246/9CRR: 4.92
Mark Gillespie4 (13b)
Kyle Mills25 (27b 1x4 1x6)
Luke Wright 2-0-8-0
Paul Collingwood 7-0-40-1
So, justice is served, and for Collingwood, there's a bit of a humiliating postscript as he heads across to shake hands with the New Zealand dressing-room, but is snubbed at the door. Either way, the fans got their money's worth, and some.
So, New Zealand - written off after their Test, Twenty20 and first ODI thumpings - have claimed a 2-1 series lead with only the decider at Lord's to come. A 3-1 victory is once again in their grasp, the same margin by which they won the corresponding series in New Zealand in February. They are never happier than when their backs are against the wall.
"It's a nice feeling," says Kyle Mills, who carried New Zealand home with an unbeaten 25, before Gillespie's nerve-wracking final over. "It was an anxious time for both sides, but that's why we play the game."
"A great game of cricket, in the sunshine, with a bit of controversy. What more could we want?" says Nasser Hussain in the Sky Sports studio, which sums things up nicely.
"In that kind of situation the umpire said 'are you upholding the appeal' and in the heat of the battle you have make a decision," says Paul Collingwood. "In hindsight I might have made the wrong decision, and I'll have to live with that. Apologies to the New Zealand team, but it's great to be able to look back with hindsight."
Now here comes Daniel Vettori. "There was a little bit of raw emotion at the end, so I apologise to Paul and his team. Now he has admitted he was wrong hopefully we can move along and play the next game in the right spirit."
And on the finish he says. "That's about as tense as it gets, especially after those four dot balls in the final over. The composure of Kyle Mills was outstanding at the end."
This will doubtless run and run, but look out for Jamie Alter's bulletin, and Will Luke's reaction piece, which will take the tale into the night. We've been Andrew Miller and Andrew McGlashan, and this has been rather dramatic. Goodnight.
49.6
2
Wright to Gillespie, 2 runs
Incredible, reminiscent of the 1999 semi-final for a split-second there.
49.5
•
Wright to Gillespie, no run
a pre-meditated advance from Gillespie, a baseball-slap from Gillespie, who hits his partner!
49.4
•
Wright to Gillespie, no run
a swing and a miss again! Outside off, too wide for contact, and now what! A tie is suddenly very much on the agenda ...
Just imagine if this was for a million dollars ... Right now, for New Zealand, it's probably worth more than that
49.3
•
Wright to Gillespie, no run
shorter, but arrow-straight. Gillespie defends with a loud "no!"
49.2
•
Wright to Gillespie, no run
outside off stump, and Gillespie's flat-footed poke finds nothing. Ambrose sprints up to the stumps to save the bye
This over could take an age ... all sorts of manouevring going on out there
49.1
1
Wright to Mills, 1 run
short and a mistimed pull, but it gets Mills off strike ...
end of over 499 runs
NZ: 243/9CRR: 4.95 • RRR: 3.00
Kyle Mills24 (26b 1x4 1x6)
Mark Gillespie2 (8b)
Paul Collingwood 7-0-40-1
Graeme Swann 10-1-49-2
Three to win, and a very aggrieved Mills on strike. Where's your money, as Luke Wright - who manufactured a tie at Napier - comes on for the death over
48.6
1
PD Collingwood to Mills, 1 run
a slower ball, clipped into the leg-side deep, and one is the call. That's the ticket for New Zealand
48.5
1
PD Collingwood to Gillespie, 1 run
length delivery, and Gillespie nudges down to third man for a valuable single. Mills on strike, with one ball to go. A single would do them just fine
48.4
1
PD Collingwood to Mills, 1 run
much fuller length this time, and a measured push from Mills. Everyone was back on the boundary so all the space in the world
What a shot, Mills read the situation, he knew it wouldn't be in his half, and that's travelled 106 metres apparently. Either way the ball is lost ... in someone's pocket.
Lots of pretend looking from the crowd at deep midwicket. The only place worth looking for that ball is on eBay. Here comes the replacement
48.3
6
PD Collingwood to Mills, SIX runs
he's connected this time! A vast swipe over deep midwicket, and that's changed the equation!
What tension. No runs for nine deliveries
48.2
•
PD Collingwood to Mills, no run
slower ball, and Mills was gone for all money, but somehow the ball looped over the bails and he survives!
48.1
•
PD Collingwood to Mills, no run
short, and Mills climbs into a swipe, but can't make contact. A valuable dot ...
end of over 48Maiden
NZ: 234/9CRR: 4.87 • RRR: 6.00
Mark Gillespie1 (7b)
Kyle Mills16 (21b 1x4)
Graeme Swann 10-1-49-2
Paul Collingwood 6-0-31-1
Say what you like about the Elliott decision, but suddenly there's a game on here
47.6
•
Swann to Gillespie, no run
forward again to smother the spin, and that's a fantastic maiden over. It's down to 12 from 12!
47.5
•
Swann to Gillespie, no run
looping, teasing, fascinatingly tantalising bowling. Gillespie is bamboozled but digs out a defensive stroke
47.4
•
Swann to Gillespie, no run
Gillespie is all at sea against this spin
47.3
•
Swann to Gillespie, no run
dropped? We think... Ambrose can't gather a beautifully looping delivery
47.2
•
Swann to Gillespie, no run
looped up and Gillespie makes to have a swing, but opts against it in the end
47.1
•
Swann to Gillespie, no run
good line and length, staunchly defended in front of off stump
end of over 472 runs • 1 wicket
NZ: 234/9CRR: 4.97 • RRR: 4.00
Kyle Mills16 (21b 1x4)
Mark Gillespie1 (1b)
Paul Collingwood 6-0-31-1
Ryan Sidebottom 10-0-55-2
Exactly four an over still required ...
46.6
•
PD Collingwood to Mills, no run
banged in short, and Mills has a swipe, but can't make contact. Nearly a wide, but not quite
46.5
1
PD Collingwood to Gillespie, 1 run
on leg stump, and clipped down to backward square. No second run this time ...
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