Cricket:England's dominance over New Zealand was ended in abrupt fashion today after they slumped to a comprehensive six-wicket defeat in the opening one-day international at the Westpac Stadium.
Favourites to win the five-match series following their comprehensive victories in the two Twenty20 internationals, the tourists were outplayed in today's day-night encounter by a New Zealand line-up galvanised by the return of captain Daniel Vettori from injury.
Having won the toss and decided to bat first, England panicked after being confronted with a two-paced pitch and crumbled to 130 all out in 49.4 overs.
Opener Phil Mustard top-scored with a patient 31 off 60 balls, only seven boundaries were hit in the whole innings and England's frustration at being unable to score at a better rate also resulted in three run-outs.
To compound their disappointment at such a dismal display, England struggled to make inroads when New Zealand replied and they cruised to victory with 20 overs remaining.
The tourists had made two changes from their winning Twenty20 line-up with Essex pair Alastair Cook and Ravi Bopara replacing Sussex's Luke Wright and in-form Dimitri Mascarenhas as England kept faith with the side who exceeded expectations by winning in Sri Lanka last October.
The changes seemed to unsettle England, however, who were tentative in the early stages as they attempted to settle on a wicket showing slight variable bounce.
Cook fell to a Chris Martin delivery which nipped back off the seam and hit his leg-stump and set a trend for the top four with all of them being bowled by New Zealand's accurate seamers.
Ian Bell became Martin's second victim playing on to a delivery which bounced slightly low outside off-stump and Kevin Pietersen also played on to a Jacob Oram delivery which seamed back into him.
Mustard, chosen for his ability to play in an attacking manner early in the innings, was forced into his shell and his 21 overs of defiance was ended when he was bowled by Scott Styris.
Needing to rebuild desperately, England instead began to capitulate with captain Paul Collingwood and Owais Shah both being run out after mix-ups, Bopara holing out to deep mid-wicket trying to hit his way out of the situation.
England's tail were equally unable to halt the slide and their innings was ended in the final over when spinner Deepak Patel bowled last man James Anderson to complete the collapse.
The tourists needed early wickets in reply, but openers Jesse Ryder and Brendon McCullum instead gave a demonstration of how to bat positively on the wicket, hitting over the top successfully to forge a 61-run stand off 78 balls.
They enjoyed their share of luck with Ryder being dropped by Graeme Swann off Ryan Sidebottom off 22 and he went on to hit 31 off 50 balls, including four fours and a six, before being caught in the deep off Stuart Broad.
McCullum, who was also dropped on 27, fell six overs later when he was strangled down the leg-side from a lifting delivery from Broad, and Jamie How was caught behind off Ryan Sidebottom trying to drive.
But by the time How's innings of 28 off 41 balls was ended New Zealand needed only nine runs for victory, but still lost man-of-the-match Scott Styris to a catch in the deep before Ross Taylor completed the comprehensive triumph.