Welcome to the highlights of New Zealand vs England 2nd ODI - 1997 England tour of New Zealand 5-match ODI series - The second One-Day International cricket match between New Zealand and England was played at Lancaster Park, Christchurch on February 23, 1997.
Match Overview:
A quick-fire unbeaten 84 by opener Nick Knight steers to England convincing six-wicket victory over New Zealand and go up 2-0 lead in a rain-affected second ODI.
Match Report:
Opener Nick Knight smashed 84 from just 69 balls on Sunday to steer England to victory in a rain-affected one-day cricket international against New Zealand.
New Zealand, batting first, reached 253 for eight from their allotted 50 overs, thanks chiefly to a swashbuckling 79 from Chris Cairns.
Rain forced a delay of 1-3/4 hours after England openers Knight and Alec Stewart had cracked 47 without loss from the first six overs.
When play resumed, the tourists always looked favourites to achieve a revised target of 132 from 26 overs for victory - especially as New Zealand still had to keep all but two fielders in the inner circle for 15 overs of the innings.
But four wickets tumbled in quick succession as England tried to force the pace in fear of further rain. After Stewart fell leg before to Heath Davis for 30, England gambled by promoting big hitters from lower down the order. It backfired, with Dominic Cork departing for four and Ronnie Irani falling to an athletic catch by Nathan Astle in the covers.
When Graham Thorpe hit a return catch to Simon Doull, four England wickets had fallen for 14 runs. But acting captain Nasser Hussain steadied the ship, and Knight finished off the match elegantly with three off-side boundaries.
It was Knight's best innings to date in an otherwise disappointing tour. England, who won the three-match test series 2-0, now enjoy a similar lead in the series of five one-day internationals.
In New Zealand's innings, opener Bryan Young scored 46 from 59 balls but it was left to Cairns to provide the main fireworks. The all-rounder, playing as a specialist batsman because of an ankle injury hindering his bowling, clubbed three sixes and five fours in his 79.
England's wayward bowlers gifted 16 wides to New Zealand, with Andrew Caddick straying four times in a single over.
New Zealand captain Lee Germon said the weather had reduced the match to a farce. "It seems unfair to us that we had to go through 15 overs of the (fielding) restriction," he said.
In-Depth Match Highlights:
New Zealand scored 253-8 in 50 overs with top scorer by Chris Cairns blasted a 79 off 74-balls including 5-fours & 3-sixes with strike rate of 106.75.
Bryan Young cracked a 46 off 59-balls including 6-fours, Stephen Fleming scored 42 off 74-balls included 4-fours and Dipak Patel hit 24 off 21-balls contained one-six & a four.
England best bowler by Andy Caddick captured two-wickets, Ronnie Irani, Alan Mullally and Darren Gough each took one-wickets.
England chase down the target of 132, finishing at 134 for 4 in 19.3 overs - due to rain revised target of 132 from 26 overs for victory after tourist had scored 47 for without lost a wicket in the first six overs - with top scorer by Nick Knight blasted a unbeaten 84 off 70-balls.
Alec Stewart hit 30 off 27-balls including 4-fours and Nasser Hussain scored a unbeaten 9 off 11-balls without a boundary.
New Zealand best bowler by Simon Doull took 2-wickets and one for Gavin Larsen - Heath Davis.
Nick Knight named Player of the match for his match-winning quick-fire unbeaten 84 off 70-balls Including 12-fours with strike rate of 120.
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