Another bad day at the office

Toss: England. A second-rate display by England in a game reduced by rain to 41 overs enabled New Zealand to win with a modest score of 199. There was an irritating start for England when umpire Thomas, standing at square leg, ruled as a no-ball a rising delivery from Malcolm off which Wright, defending his upper chest, was caught at second slip. The left-hander, using his feet beautifully to off-drive Hemmings, then proceeded to 67. England, however, had no excuses. Three difficult catches were dropped, their over-rate was tardy (limiting the innings to 40 overs), and when batting they lacked discipline and purpose. Gower, opening because Larkins was recuperating from dentistry, got the reply off on the wrong foot when, having hooked Pringle's second ball for six, he drove the fourth to extra cover. Smith went the same way, and Atherton and Lamb took sixteen overs to add 71. Subsequently, only Morris, with an undefeated 63 off 46 balls on his one-day international début, kept his head as the asking-rate rose.

Man of the Match: J. G. Wright.