Oram helps Kiwis recover to pass 200 against England

SYDNEY, Jan 23 (Reuters) All-rounder Jacob Oram scored a defiant 86 in his first match back from injury to help New Zealand recover from a disastrous start and make 210 in today's tri-series one-day international against England in Adelaide.

Oram smashed six fours and two sixes in his 89-ball innings to post his highest one-day score and help the Kiwis finish with a respectable total after the top-order collapsed.

England's fast bowlers reduced New Zealand to 67 for five in the 24th over with an inspired performance on a lifeless pitch that offered little encouragement to either side.

England captain Andrew Flintoff captured the vital wicket of New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming then polished off the tail to finish with four for 21 from his 10 overs.

James Anderson took two wickets but ruined his figures with an expensive last over that yielded 14 runs while Jon Lewis, Monty Panesar and Paul Collingwood bagged one each.

Collingwood also held three catches and was involved in the run out of James Franklin as the Kiwis were bowled out on the final ball of the 50th over.

New Zealand, still without a win the series, were at risk of falling well short of 200 after Fleming (20), Peter Fulton (24) and Ross Taylor (15) all made starts but failed to go on with the job.

But Oram, playing his first international match since injuring a hamstring, steadied the innings with a dogged performance.

He shared a 120-run partnership with Brendon McCullum for the sixth wicket before both batsmen threw their wickets away trying to accelerate the run-rate in the frantic final overs.

England mopped up the last five wickets for just 23 runs in four a half overs to leave themselves chasing a moderate total for their second win of the competition.

REUTERS PM HT1340