NAPIER (New Zealand), Feb 20: England snatched an unlikely tie against New Zealand after earlier staring down the barrel of defeat in a thrilling — and historic — fourth One-day International here on Wednesday.

After being sent into bat England made 340 for six, and when it looked as if New Zealand had paced themselves to pull off a high-scoring victory, bolstered by a century by Jamie How, they were denied victory with the final delivery.

With New Zealand needing two to win off the last ball, Wright pitched up to Daniel Vettori and restricted him to a single.

On a day tailor-made for batters, the 340 by each side was the highest-scoring tie in the history of One-day Internationals and was also the highest ODI score overseas by an England side.

England captain Paul Collingwood said he never felt overly confident with 340.

It was a match which started with an audacious gamble by Vettori, who won the toss and spurned the chance to bat on a generous wicket on the grounds that New Zealand play better when they are chasing a target.

When they set out after their enormous target of 341 to win, the signs were there that Vettori’s hunch was right, as Jesse Ryder and Brendon McCullum raced to 70 off the first 10 overs.

Ryder was first to fall when he skied Stuart Broad and was well caught by James Anderson, who had the distraction of avoiding Owais Shah in the race for the ball.

How joined McCullum and they put on 91 for the second wicket before McCullum went for 58.

With Ross Taylor for support, How kept advancing on the target and when Taylor was out for 48, New Zealand looked comfortable, needing 87 off the final 12 overs.

But Scott Styris came and went for a quick 20 while Peter Fulton (duck) and Jacob Oram (six) did not stay long, leaving New Zealand on 315 for five with four overs to go.

England had a lucky escape at the start of their innings when McCullum spilled a regulation chance, which allowed Alastair Cook and Phil Mustard to carry on for an impressive opening stand of 158.

The breakthrough came when Vettori tossed the ball to part-time bowler Jesse Ryder, who had the big-hitting Mustard caught at long-on by Oram with his fifth ball, and then bowled Cook, who crossed as Oram took the catch.

Kevin Pietersen prevented the hat-trick when Ryder started his second over, and raced to 50 off 47 balls. Ian Bell went for 43 and Collingwood was unbeaten on 54 from 30 deliveries when the innings ended.

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