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Group C: New Zealand beat England by six wickets

Chasing a 210-run target, New Zealand beat England by six wickets in their first World Cup tie at St Lucia on Friday.

Jacob Oram and Scott Styris completed a 138-run partnership to take their side towards victory after losing four crucial wickets early in the game.

After losing the recent tri-nation limited-overs series in Australia, this win served as a morale booster for New Zealand who were poised equally against England in Group C.

New Zealand take on Kenya while England will face Canada in their next World Cup tussle.

New Zealand innings

Pacer Jimmy Anderson retaliated for the English side dispatching opener Lou Vincent (0) in the maiden over of the New Zealand innings.

Liam Plunkett got lucky in the next over to dismiss Ross Taylor, also for a duck. Anderson struck back to uproot skipper Stephen Fleming for a paltry score of seven runs in the fifth over the game.

Craig McMillan came to rescue the dented New Zealand side. But seamer Monty Panesar removed the key batsman for 27 in his second delivery of the game.

Jacob Oram and Scott Styris completed a 138-run partnership, after racking up half-centuries each.

Early morning rain had delayed the start of the match. Observing a moist ground, New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming elected to field.

England innings

Kiwis got the better of England as pacer James Franklin packed off opener Ed Joyce for a duck in the second ball of the game. Soon, Jacob Oram dispatched Ian Bell for 5 runs.

Franklin struck back to further dent the England innings by removing skipper Michael Vaughan (26). Kevin Pietersen got some help from Paul Collingwood as the two partnered to score 85 runs.

McCullum broke the vital partnership sending back Collingwood for 31. Shortly after that Shane Bond dismissed Pietersen (60). Nemesis struck as Bond scalped the prized wicket of Andrew Flintoff for a duck.

Next in the line was Jamie Dalrymple, who succumbed to a delivery off Styris. Paul Nixon and Liam Plunkett gave some hope to England, steering their side past the 200-run milepost.

Fraught with injuries, both the teams looked forward to their tussle at Gros Islet. James Anderson, who had broken a finger during practice, was cleared to play for England and won one of the two specialist seamer spots ahead of Jon Lewis.

New Zealand used two spinners, with Jeetan Patel supporting Daniel Vettori. Despite nagging health issues, Craig McMillan was also included in the team.

Teams

England: Ed Joyce, Michael Vaughan (captain), Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Andrew Flintoff, Jamie Dalrymple, Paul Nixon, Liam Plunkett, Jimmy Anderson, Monty Panesar.

New Zealand: Lou Vincent, Stephen Fleming (captain), Ross Taylor, Scott Styris, Craig McMillan, Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum, Daniel Vettori, Shane Bond, James Franklin, Jeetan Patel.