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Match facts
Wednesday June 25, 2008
Start time 10.45 (9.45GMT)
The big picture
England’s upward one-day curve hit a blip at Bristol on Saturday, with New Zealand triumphing by 22 runs to level the series at 1-1. The joy, or relief, with which the tourists celebrated showed how difficult the last few weeks had been and, as they approach the fourth ODI at The Oval, the momentum is with them. Grant Elliott, the allrounder who was playing for Weybridge in the Surrey Championship a week ago, has surprised everyone with his composure at international level, and his 56 at Bristol hoisted New Zealand from the depths of 75 for 6 to a challenging (and ultimately match-winning) 182. Kyle Mills and Tim Southee also found form, but for England, it was their complacency with the bat which cost them. Going into the first of the two London [...]