Highest ever tie witnessed

England elected to bat in the ground which promised run flow. The match started with the fine-looking partnership between Cook and Mustard. Suddenly both the openers fell in the same over. Then the innings was stabilized by Bell and Pietersen. Both played fluently and gave England a strong position from where they can throw their bat. Their departure saw the entry of Collingwood and Wright. Collingwood smashed 50 of 24 balls which included 6 sixes. He was close to the record of being the first batsmen to score a fifty with maximum sixes and without hitting a boundary. Both guided their team to a striking total of 340. New Zealand started their innings knowing that they have their chance to win the series. It was not a threatening total having played in a small ground. Nevertheless it required great skill and temperament to reach that target.

New Zealand too had a good start from its openers. They had the upper hand in the match with a comfortable score of 161 having lost only one wicket. McCullum was stumped and there came Taylor who was searching for his form. Taylor too played beautifully and when he departed his team was in great position to win the match. All of a sudden there was a collapse in the middle order and the crowd witnessed flurry of wickets in one end. Jamie How was standing tall amidst the collapse. He was playing the innings of his life. Collingwood had limited option to bowl the final over. It was a surprise decision which gave the ball to Wright. Finally the home team needed two from one ball. Vettori took a single of the last ball and the match ended in tie. Silence prevailed in the ground and we can see the surprise word written in each and every face. It took few minutes to realize that it was a tie. Definitely it was a nerve-racking finish.