Despite skipper Fleming’s 106, England beat New Zealand by 14 runs at the Gabba in Brisbane on Tuesday to join Australia in the tri-series one-day international finals.

Although the Kiwis were favorites to win the crucial tie but the England bowlers kept their cool and picked up wickets at regular intervals. It was a day that went just right for England by winning the all important toss and electing to field. Paul Collingwood smashed 106 and Andrew Strauss 55 as England recovered from a slow start to amass a formidable total of 270 for seven from their 50 overs.

New Zealand made a flying start to their reply with captain Stephen Fleming scoring a characteristic 106 off 149 balls but lost their way in the latter stages to finish with 256-8.

England started rather poorly by loosing three early wickets by the 14th over after returning skipper Michael Vaughan was bowled by Shane Bond for a duck with a perfect in swinging yorker and Ian Bell (12) and Ed Joyce (26) both went cheaply. But Strauss and MoM Collingwood steadied the innings to take their side past 100 in the 22nd over before increasing the run-rate.

The pair added 103 for the third wicket before Strauss was bowled by Scott Styris followed by Collingwood bowled by Bond. Wicketkeeper Paul Nixon was bowled by Mark Gillespie for a second ball duck in the penultimate over before Dalrymple (29 not out) and Liam Plunkett (15 not out) went on a late flurry to lift the total to 270.
 
New Zealand started well when Plunkett bowled five wides in the opening over, including one that raced away to the boundary rope, as Fleming and Lou Vincent put on 81 for the first wicket.

But the England bowlers succeeded in drying up the runs, forcing the Kiwis to take more risks to try and increase the rate as the wickets started to tumble.

England meets Australia in the best of three finals starting Friday.

Brief Scores

England 270-7 (50 Overs) beat New Zealand 256-8 (50 Overs)