England recover to 209-7 against Kiwis after collapse

GROS ISLET, St Lucia, March 16 (Reuters) England were undone by some rash shots on their way to 209 for seven in their opening World Cup Group C clash with New Zealand today.

They lost their three key middle order batsmen, Paul Collingwood (31), Kevin Pietersen (60) and Andrew Flintoff (0), in rapid succession to lose momentum completely.

However, an unbeaten 71-run partnership between Paul Nixon (42) and Liam Plunkett (29) gave England at least something to bowl at when New Zealand bat on an extremely slow, sticky wicket.

Heavy morning rain forced the start to be delayed by half an hour, with the wet conditions leading New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming to put England into bat.

But the bowlers needed little help early on with England's top three getting themselves out with loose shots.

Opener Ed Joyce wafted away from his body and edged James Franklin behind to Brendon McCullum for a duck in the second delivery of the first over after a no-ball.

Ian Bell then made five before making the same mistake against Jacob Oram.

Captain Michael Vaughan, set to play a full part in the game after recovering from knee and hamstring problems, played some exuberant shots in his 26 before dragging a Franklin ball on to his stumps.

Pietersen, making his first one-day competitive international appearance since breaking his rib in January, then steadied the innings with 60 before a mini-collapse left England reeling.

Collingwood, Pietersen and Flintoff for a duck all fell within sevens balls before the tail wagged against wicketless spinners Daniel Vettori and Jeetan Patel to push England's total up.

New Zealand picked batsman Craig McMillan after he recovered from a bruised toe but left out Peter Fulton.

England included James Anderson, despite the seamer breaking the little finger on his bowling hand on Wednesday, while Plunkett bagged the other pace spot after impressing in the victorious tri-series win in Australia.

Kenya hammered Canada by seven wickets in the first Group C match on Wednesday. The seven-week long World Cup culminates in the Barbados final on April 28.

REUTERS DH VC2320