Napier, Feb 20 (AP) Ross Taylor brought up a century and Brendon McCullum added 74 as the captains past and present lifted New Zealand after a slow start to a target of 269 here today in the second limited-overs international against England.
The pair shared a partnership of exactly 100 runs from 43 balls to give New Zealand's innings impetus and scale.
New Zealand was only 89-2 at the midpoint of its innings after making a painfully slow beginning against tight England bowling at McLean Park, a ground known for high-scoring matches. The last one-day international between England and New Zealand on the ground in 2008 ended in a tie in which both teams scored 340.
But New Zealand was pinned down early in its innings by accurate bowling from the new ball pair of James Anderson and Steve Finn. It lost openers B.J. Watling for 7 and Hamish Rutherford, on debut, for 11, further slowing its progress and placing pressure on the middle order.
Anderson bowled superbly at the start and end of the New Zealand innings, taking 5-34 from 9.5 overs, while Chris Woakes had 3-68.
Kane Williamson mounted a slow recovery, making 33 in a 72-run partnership with Taylor for the third wicket through the middle overs.
Taylor, who was fired as captain and replaced by McCullum late last year, battled with his timing early in his innings as he has done since he ended a self-imposed exile from international play. His innings gradually grew in momentum and it blossomed during his partnership with McCullum between the 36th and 45th overs. More (AFP) AH
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