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New Zealand v England, 4th ODI, Napier
Déjà vu in Napier
S Rajesh
February 20, 2008
Stats highlights from the incredible tied game between New Zealand and England in Napier.
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Jamie How averages 106.50 in two ODIs in Napier, at a strike rate of 110.36
© Getty Images
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The match in Napier was the 23rd tie in 2682 ODIs, which works out to a miniscule 0.86%, but when New Zealand and England play in Napier, that number goes up to a whopping 50%: in four games between the two teams here, two have been tied. The previous one was almost exactly 11 years ago, but the scores were more moderate, with both teams scoring 237.
This was the fifth tied game for both New Zealand and England. Australia lead the way with eight tied games, while Pakistan are next with six.
Jamie How, the star batsman of the day, played an innings which went completely against his normal playing style. In 16 ODI innings before this match, he had scored at a strike rate of 67.27. In one innings, he pushed his strike rate up by more than six percentage points to 73.75. Among innings in which he faced more than five deliveries, this was the first time he scored at more than a run a ball.
How clearly enjoys batting at the McLean Park - the last time he played an ODI here, he scored 74 from 77 deliveries against Bangladesh. His stats in Napier read 213 runs from two ODIs at an average of 106.50, and a strike rate of 110.36. In other grounds, he has scored 481 from 15 innings at an average of 34.35, and a strike rate of 64.30.
The 158-run opening-wicket stand between Alastair Cook and Phil Mustard is only their second century partnership for the first wicket against New Zealand.
It was a day to forget for most of the bowlers, but two of them had it worse than the rest. Iain O'Brien, on debut, leaked 59 runs in six overs, making it the fourth-most expensive spell (of at least five overs) by a New Zealand bowler at home. James Anderson was the most profligate of the England bowlers - his 1 for 86 is the second-most expensive ten-over spell for England, after Steve Harmison's none for 97 against Sri Lanka at Headingley in 2006.
Daniel Vettori wasn't quite as expensive, but his economy rate of 7.33 is among his most expensive spells in ODIs: only once, against Australia in Pune in 2003, has he gone for more runs per over (among matches in which he bowled at least eight overs).
S Rajesh is stats editor of Cricinfo
© Cricinfo
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