England will be hoping to counter back and avoid consecutive ODI series losses to New Zealand when the final One Dayer of the five match England New Zealand Nat West Series gets underway this coming Saturday 28th June 2008 at the hollowed grounds of Lord's in England. New Zealand currently lead the five match series by 2-1 and will go into this clash as bang on favourites to win the series.

The last match at the Oval saw New Zealand pick up a dramatic last ball victory and snatch victory when in truth, England deserved much more. After a fine middle order batting performance saw them put up a more than competitive score of 245, New Zealand collapsed early on only to recover and establish a score of 173-4 in the 35th over. Late collapses followed by a controversial run out saw things turn out dramatically in favour of the English as a defeat for the Kiwis looked to be the likely option on the cards. However, as fate would have ordained, a late blossoming partnership saw the Kiwis move on to a last ball victory courtesy an overthrow and establish a fine victory that will hold them in good stead going into the final One Dayer

England have dripped down in standard after playing superbly in the three match test series a month earlier. While it remains a fact that the English ODI team remains a cut below their test team, some of the rather ineffective and rash performances by the top order will have to be questioned. Twice in the series, England have been bundled below 200 to a rather mediocre Kiwi attack and things need to improve if they are to establish a place for them in the top rung of ODI cricket. One player who will be determined to make up for his misses will be batsman Kevin Pietersen. Peitersen has been a rather forlorn figure since his century in the first One- Dayer and much of England's hopes will revolve around the shoulders of the 27 year old South African born batsman. The bowling looks settled and in truth, they have been impressive all throughout the summer. The likes of James Anderson and Ryan Sidebottom have been top notch and will be hoping to carry on their form against in-form New Zealand at the Lord's this coming Saturday.

New Zealand continue to defy the odds and their victory over England in the last One-Dayer will give them tremendous confidence coming into this clash. One player who deserves much of the credit for their recent upsurge has to be skipper Daniel Vettori. Vettori has been an inspirational figure all throughout the series and even by his own high standards; he has outperformed himself both on the pitch and off it. New Zealand have fought resolutely despite coming to England with their weakest team in many a year. After going 1-0 down in the series, New Zealand have thoroughly dominated all the remaining three matches and if not for the rain in the second One Dayer, New Zealand could have well been declared the winners of the series. However, this current bunch of New Zealand national cricket team players are a resolute lot and they will be hoping to move beyond the realms of anger and injustice when they come up against the English at the Lords this coming Saturday 28th June 2008.

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Tag :- Daniel Vettori   England   James Anderson   Kevin Pietersen   Lords   New Zealand   ODI   One dayer