England gave another strong performance to win the second Twenty20 match against New Zealand in Christchurch by 50 runs and seal the series 2-0.

Paul Collingwood (54) and Owais Shah (47) successfully weathered a mini-collapse to put on 102 from 62 balls and lead the tourists to 193-8.

New Zealand slumped to 42-3 after six overs and could only manage 143-8.

Ryan Sidebottom was the pick of an impressive England bowling unit, taking 2-19 despite there being no swing.

By Mark Mitchener

606: DEBATE Discuss the game on 606

0912: Right, that's it - a good job done by England. I'll be back in this seat for the first full ODI, which starts at 0100 GMT on Saturday morning - I hope you'll join me then.

"We've posted two good totals in the two games and defended them really well, and you can't ask more than that. We lost four quick wickets today but regained the momentum really well, so there's plenty of confidence there. As a unit, they're learning really quickly for a young group of lads. But we've got five really important games coming up and we want to take it on"
England captain Paul Collingwood

0904: I have to admit, I'm slightly disappointed we didn't see a little cameo from Chris Martin with the bat - he's the sort of number 11 who walks to the crease with the groundsman starting up the motor roller, but he's clearly not afraid to poke fun at himself, as an examination of YouTube reveals...

0902: And with the magic hour of 0900 GMT having passed, 606 is now open for business, so do join the debate about England's victory - and have a look ahead to the five-game ODI series.

ENGLAND BEAT NEW ZEALAND BY 50 RUNS - ENGLAND WIN TWENTY20 SERIES 2-0

20th over - NZ 143-8
Any thoughts of Wright, Colly, Mustard or anyone else having a trundle are dispelled as Sidey takes the ball for the final over, with New Zealand needing a mere 58 runs to win. Southee and Mills manage a single off the first five balls as the crowd begins to leave. With the game still in progress, Colly is on the boundary, signing shirts for fans! Southee manages to take two off the final ball, so England win by 50 runs.

"Imagine Boycs playing T20? As much as I love Geoff, having him in any limited over affair would be like backing Paula Radcliffe in a sprint"
Arron, Nottingham, in the TMS inbox

19th over - NZ 136-8
Anderson returns to the attack and curiously bowls round the wicket to the right-handed Mills, who swings at one which sails to fine leg for four. He prods a single into the covers, then Southee is off the mark by pulling one for four to cow corner - but it's too little, too late for the Kiwis. Dermot Reeve on TMS thinks Colly should be planning for the future and give Luke Wright a bowl in the last over, just to give him the experience - "practise your six yorkers", if you like. Southee smears another one off his legs through midwicket, and the Beige Brigade are still clapping.

18th over - NZ 122-8
Tim Southee is the new batsman, but misses his first two balls from Sidey and can't get the third away.

17.3 overs - WICKET - Hitchcock b Sidebottom 13 - NZ 122-8
Sidey returns for his third over, and brushes his curls out of his face in the slight breeze. Mills swings and misses, before guiding a single to third man where KP is fielding, having seemingly been hiding for most of the NZ innings. Hitchcock then advances down the track, and Sidey pulls out of the delivery at the last minute. Sidey has the last laugh as Hitch takes a wild swing and is bowled middle stump.

"So Daniel in NZ, the universe only has one sun does it? Methinks you are confusing 'universe' with 'our solar system'. Now sit back and enjoy your lot being walloped!"
Liam, Swindon, in the TMS inbox

17th over - NZ 121-7
Hitch, mate, I take it all back - he lifts Broad for a six over cover point. After he clubs a single, Mills reaches 20 with an ungainly slogged single to leg. Hitchcock then carves Broad for a cover-driven four, signalled with a flourish (as ever) by umpire Billy Bowden.

"Watching Twenty20, it is immediately obvious how much cricket has really changed over the past few years. This makes me wonder how would the greats of cricket (Bradman, Viv Richards, WG Grace etc) handle Twenty20 if they ever had the fortune to encounter it, and who would have been best suited, Geoff Boycott perhaps?"
Ahmed Bashe, Hargeisa-Somaliland, in the TMS inbox

"I know it's late in the year to come out with Christmas analogies, but where NZ have been Scrooge-like in the number of extras they've added to the batting side's score (two on Tuesday and only four today), England have pipped Santa Claus in their levels of generosity having afforded the Black Caps 23 on Tuesday alone. Here's hoping England resemble my aunt Martha this time around and give nothing"
Fred in the TMS inbox

16th over - NZ 109-7
Mills nurdles a two and a single off Swann, before Hitch finally connects and takes a single. Mills guides the next ball to cow corner for two, as you sense the game is past them. Captain Colly and the fielders are quickly back to their marks and are happy to concede more singles at this stage.

15th over - NZ 101-7
The TMS box has certainly had some good past and present NZ cricketers as guests in the box today - Daniel Vettori earlier, ex-Kiwi keeper Warren Lees as a summariser, and now the injured Jacob Oram joins Aggers. Mills steers another four off Broad but plays and misses at a few before Broad concedes a no-ball (given as it was the second bouncer of the over). Mills hits a single off the next ball, before Hitchcock is completely bamboozled by a slower ball and is then hit on the hip swinging at the last delivery. No offence, Hitch, but you haven't got bat on ball yet - if you're the opening batsman for Auckland, do you think I'd get a game there?!

14th over - NZ 95-7
As they crossed on the catch, Mills dabs a single to bring new batsman Hitchcock on strike. He apparently opens for Auckland in domestic cricket, but plays and misses at his first ball.

13.4 overs - WICKET - Flynn c Wright b Swann 1 - NZ 94-7
Flynn has been in for a while, but finally faces his first ball which he works away for a single. Mills then hoists Swann over midwicket for a big six. But after he takes a single, another wicket tumbles as the left-handed Flynn holes out to Wright on the cover boundary.

13th over - NZ 86-6
New batsman Kyle Mills sees off the last two balls as Mascarenhas finishes with an impressive 2-25 from his four overs.

12.4 overs - WICKET - How b Mascarenhas 31 - NZ 86-6
How swings at Mascarenhas, it flies off an edge to third man, Sidey charges in and dives forward and just can't take the catch. They run two. How then gets hold of a slower ball and square-cuts it past the diving Wright on the cover boundary. He tries an unorthodox shimmy across his stumps to the next ball, completely messes it up and is bowled leg stump - Dimi's second wicket.

12th over - NZ 80-5
How takes a single off the last ball, having been joined by debutant Daniel Flynn.

11.5 overs - WICKET - Fulton c Anderson b Swann 2 - NZ 79-5
Swann returns as Captain Colly continues to rotate his bowlers. How tries a reverse sweep but can't get it away, and has more success with an orthodox sweep - but another wicket falls as Fulton swings one to square leg and Anderson takes the catch - confusing the TMS team as he's wearing Alastair Cook's sweater.

11th over - NZ 75-4
Dimi mixes his pace up nicely, making new batsman "Two-Metre Peter" Fulton play and miss outside off-stump. He's eventually off the mark with a single to deep mid-on. How is struck on the pad, Dimi appeals but it looks like it may have hit him just outside the line. Just three singles from the over.

10.2 overs - WICKET - Styris c Sidebottom b Mascarenhas 13 - NZ 72-4
Dimi strikes as Styris tries to launch a slower ball into the off-side and is snaffled by Sidey who takes the catch as he comes in from the boundary.

10th over - NZ 71-3
Swann's off after one over, and Broad's back on. Styris fends one off which lands just short of what would have been a spectacular caught-and-bowled. He dabs a single to mid-off and How takes his score to 19 with a two as we reach the halfway point in the innings.

9th over - NZ 67-3
Styris can't quite time it against Mascarenhas, working him away to leg for a single. A back-foot drive brings How a single, before Styris lifts the next ball over midwicket for a carefully-placed six. How drives, and is slightly fortunate to get a four through the vacant slip area. 13 from the over - that's better from the Black Caps.

"MM, has anyone ever hit a six off a hat-trick ball before?"
Martin in Lake Tekapo, three hours south of Christchurch, in the TMS inbox
[Sounds like one for Bill Frindall - MM]

8th over - NZ 54-3
Our first sight of spin all day - it's BBC Sport columnist Graeme Swann into the attack for some right-arm off-spin. (The Kiwis, remember, went into South Africa mode by declining to field a recognised spinner in their XI). How takes two, then sweeps for four as the diving fielder Luke Wright not only misses the ball, but suffers the indignity of his trousers coming down a little. Another sweep brings How a single, then Styris trots through for a single and is lucky that Collingwood's throw from wide mid-on just misses the stumps. The Penguin wasn't hurrying, and he would have been in trouble if it had hit.

"If you put George C Scott and Anthony Worrall Thompson into a machine like in the film 'The Fly' and combined them, Scott Styris would come out"
Arlo White on TMS

7th over - NZ 46-3
With the fielding restrictions off, it's time for Mascarenhas. He has an lbw shout against new batsman Scott Styris off his first ball, and the batsmen then exchange singles. With Mustard standing up, Styris is stuck in his crease, and it's just four runs from the over.

6th over - NZ 42-3
How defends the last ball, while Arlo and Dermot on TMS praise Broad for having the nerve to go for that slower ball - considering the previous huge hit.

5.5 overs - WICKET - Taylor c Bell b Broad 21 - NZ 42-3
Last over of the fielding restrictions, and Stuart Broad takes up the attack. As the TMS crew remarked earlier, he must have to fight over the blond-bleach hair dye, along with Messrs Mustard, Wright and Swann. How smashes one for three to the midwicket boundary, and Wright clearly doesn't fancy his throwing arm much, as he tosses the ball to Sidey (who's a yard away from him) to throw in. The next ball is launched miles back over long-on - right to the back of one of the big stands. Biggest hit we've seen today. Taylor then tries another big hit, but miscues to a slower ball and Bell takes the catch running back at cover.

5th over - NZ 33-2
Taylor takes a single off Jimmy to bring new batsman Jamie How on strike, while Stuart Broad warms up in the outfield. How clips his first ball off his legs for a single. The next ball is a low full-toss, somehow Taylor gets a faint edge and they scamper through for two. Encouraged, Taylor absolutely leathers the next one over cow corner for six. Another hit to the same area, this time for four, rounds off the over.

"For Paul's second (or third) youngest: The Earth, being a round ball, not flat like the priests and monarchs of the some-teenth century supposed, has two sides - a topside (northern hemisphere, for you lot) and a bottom side (southern hemisphere, for us); we learnt this from Chris Columbus who set out for India and found the USA instead, where the natives were pretending to be Indians. Because the world has two sides, and the universe only has one sun (unlike your daddy, who has three sons, and possibly more) - which can only be in one place at any given time (unless, of course, you happen to be a quantum physicist) - only one side of the world can have night (or day) at any one time. Ergo, your morning is our evening and we had our breakfast long ago - now, you go and have yours so you can get outside and play cricket"
Daniel, New Zealand, in the TMS inbox

4th over - WICKET - McCullum b Sidebottom 5 - NZ 19-2
McCullum drives Sidey's first ball for a quickly-run single to mid-off. The last NZ game I watched was the World Twenty20 semi-final when they lost to Pakistan, and Taylor had a bit of a mare - he contrived to run two of his team-mates out, and then dropped a dolly of a catch at a crucial time. But he's off the mark here as he and the skipper exchange singles. More quick running from McCullum is bringing singles to almost every ball he faces, but the boundaries have dried up since Ryder rode out. After another Taylor single, McCullum heaves at one from Sidey that swings and is comprehensively castled as the off-stump is ripped out of the ground. He looks absolutely gutted.

"Morning Double M. Good knock there after that little blip. Let's hope the bowlers can do the business now and build up a bit of momentum for Saturday"
Billyboy, Sutton, in the TMS inbox

3rd over - NZ 15-1
New batsman is Ross Taylor, but the batsmen crossed on the catch so McCullum pinches the strike with a single off Anderson's last ball.

2.5 overs - WICKET - Ryder c Shah b Anderson 12 - NZ 14-1
Ryder steers a single to third man, while McCullum plays his most attacking stroke yet but Sidey makes a sprawling stop at third man and they just run one. Ryder goes for another big hit, but skies it and Shah has plenty of time to judge the catch at extra cover on the edge of the fielding circle.

"Because Mascarenhas, Swann and Broad can all bat, it allows England's top-order batsmen to be more positive"
Dermot Reeve on TMS

2nd over - NZ 12-0
Ryan Sidebottom, wild-haired as ever, takes the second over, bowling to fellow leftie Ryder who works the first ball off his legs for a single. McCullum is off the mark with a single, before Ryder slams another four through the covers, cheered on by New Zealand's "Beige Brigade" supporters. Aggers on TMS reveals that Sidey's dad, Arnie Sidebottom, will soon be coming out to New Zealand to watch some of the tour. A single means Ryder is still dominating the strike.

"Ryder bats left-handed but bowls and throws right-handed, so his right hand is his dominant hand, like Marcus Trescothick"
Dermot Reeve on TMS

"Wicket Wicket 6 (off the 19th over) - Twenty20 Cricket is kind of like dating without small talk really"
Jason, Cambridge, in the TMS inbox
[Sort of like speed dating then? MM]

1st over - NZ 5-0
Anderson goes round the wicket to the left-handed Ryder who wastes no time, steering the first ball through point for four. He swings and misses at the next one, before digging out the third. A single off the fifth ball brings McCullum on strike, and they decide against a run off the final ball.

0740: These Twenty20 intervals just fly by. Jimmy Anderson to take the new ball against Brendon McCullum and Jesse Ryder.

"Morning Mark! Might be best to run the fashion comments past a female first, hun, although I'm sure we all appreciate your efforts. The dancing trousers are khaki... or at least I think they were - they seem to have given up and gone home! And how vile is Scott Styris's hair? Beggars belief..."
Sarah, helpfully, in Canterbury, in the TMS inbox
[I believe the trousers in question are normally known as "cargo pants" - but with the different meanings of the word "pants" around the globe, I didn't want any confusion as to what the dancing girls were actually wearing - MM]

"Also back from a night out in Loughborough! Worst thing about England touring overseas is that they take our cricketers away from our nightclubs every other day of the week! Bring on the summer"
Brossco, Baker, Flain, Nimjoe from the Falk Egg massive in the TMS inbox

"My second youngest (or maybe third, it's early) boy has arrived downstairs and is keen to know why the people in New Zealand get to play cricket before breakfast when I won't let him. Can anyone provide a concise explanation of basic earth-revolving-on-own-axis-while-going-round-sun astronomy so I don't have to get out an orange, a malteser and a potato cooking spike. As I said, it's early"
Paul in Lancs in the TMS inbox[Reminds me of the occasion where one of my bosses asked me to summarise the Duckworth-Lewis system in one short paragraph - MM]

0728: Right, if you're just getting up and going to work, remember you can follow the game here on BBC Sport on your mobile or other handheld device. Go on, you know you want to!

ENGLAND INNINGS

20th over - WICKET - Broad c Ryder b Mills 0 - Eng 193-8
Stuart Broad comes out for the final ball of the over, has a big heave to leg, and is easily caught by the burly Ryder. So, a golden duck for young Broad - but England finish with 193-8. No need for Ryan Sidebottom and Jimmy Anderson to bat.

19.5 overs - WICKET - Mascarenhas run out 11 - Eng 193-7
The new batsman is BBC Sport columnist Graeme Swann, who ducks a bouncer from Mills which is deemed an aerial wide as it sails at least a yard over his head. Swann tries an off-side heave which goes first-bounce to third man and they run two. The next one goes to the same fielder for a single. Four balls left - what can Dimi do now? He digs out a low full-toss and with third man up, steers it away for four! Third man is put back, deep midwicket is up. Dimi carefully eyes the field changes, but then swings and misses at a wide one. Penultimate ball is full-length, they run two to deep extra cover, and the third umpire is called into action - Mascarenhas is out by six inches. He hit 11 from four balls faced.

19th over - Eng 184-6
Hat-trick ball - Dimi takes a huge swing, and it sails over backward point for six! One ball faced, six runs - amazing effort from the Hampshire man!

18.5 overs - WICKET - Collingwood c How b Hitchcock 54 - Eng 178-6
They crossed on the catch, so Colly is facing. He swings one straight to long-on, and is caught - so Hitch is on a hat-trick!

18.4 overs - WICKET - Shah c Taylor b Hitchcock 47 - Eng 178-5
This could be a crucial over - will the Black Caps turn to Hitchcock, Styris or Ryder? Hitchcock gets the nod - Shah swings a single to deep extra cover. Colly heaves one to deep midwicket and they run one. The next ball is a wide outside off-stump which Shah leaves alone, rightly. Shah then heaves one towards the building site at cow corner and not even "Two-Metre Peter" Fulton can take the catch without walking over the rope for six. That's the 100 partnership. Shah then hoists another one towards long-off but Taylor takes a comfortable catch. Two balls left from Hitchcock - so Dial M for Mascarenhas!

"Great to see people all over the world watching the cricket together online. Here in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada it's 2am and negative 28 degrees but it's not stopping me! Let's go England!"
Joel McLean in the TMS inbox

18th over - Eng 169-4
As Vettori tells TMS they'd be happy to restrict England to under 180, Mills returns and Colly guides one through square leg for four to take his score to 45. The next ball is lifted high over square leg for six - bringing up his half-century (off 24 balls) in some style. "He's batting like a man possessed" says Arlo White on TMS. Mills finally pitches one up which Colly digs out for a single. Three more singles and round off the over.

17th over - Eng 155-4
Ryder trots in again, but a good boundary stop from Mills restricts Shah to two. Shah then launches a huge six over long-off - it's not the biggest of grounds, but it sails into the first row of the stands. Injured NZ captain Daniel Vettori enters the TMS box, just as Shah advances down the track and misses, but McCullum misses a stumping chance as he drops the ball and breaks the stumps with his gloves. Shah goes aerial again, but luckily for him, the ball drops between three fielders and goes for a first-bounce four.

16th over - Eng 139-4
More bowler rotation as Chris Martin returns for his fourth and final over. Shah tries to heave him away but gets an edge down to fine leg for two. The next ball is rather wide, but Shah drops his bat to run it to third man for a single. Still no boundaries as the pair continue to rotate the strike with singletons. Colly finally times one as he steps outside the line and pulls one to midwicket for four. Martin's last ball is a low full-toss which Colly smashes to the cow corner boundary for another four.

"Does anyone else think that Tim Southee looks a lot like ex-Kiwi opening bowler Danny Morrison?"
Clive, Watford, in the TMS inbox
[Don't know, but he's possibly the youngest-looking international cricketer I've ever seen - MM]

15th over - Eng 126-4
A change of bowling as the burly Jesse Ryder comes on with some more gentle medium pace. No boundaries for Shah and Colly though - just a single off every ball, the last of which brings up the fifty partnership.

14th over - Eng 120-4
Southee went for 22 from four overs - but Hitchcock (22 from one over) is back in the attack, exposing McCullum's lack of bowling options. But he defies his earlier form by conceding just a Shah single off his first three balls. Colly off-drives to long-off for a single, then Shah handsomely cover-drives for four. Shah then fences at a short ball, but can't get it away, despite Hitchcock's innocuous (lack of) pace.

13th over - Eng 114-4
Southee's bowling his overs straight through, but Colly advances down the track and hits him high over long-on for six, nearly hitting a female steward who (as per her job description) was watching the crowd rather than the cricket. The next ball is despatched the other side of the bowler, going through long-off for six. After he takes a single to leg, Shah on-drives but unluckily for him, the ball strikes non-striker Colly and there's no run. Shah does manage a single off the last ball, leaving Southee with 2-22 from his four overs - figures which Richie Benaud would purr over.

"Good morning from a small office deep under London where I'm attempting to make the tube trains run on time. No radio down here so relying on my web connection to keep ticking over with updates. (Please just use first name so the bosses don't realise). Cheers"
Jon in the TMS inbox

12th over - Eng 102-4
Styris tries a slower ball which is delicately chipped by Colly towards square leg. Shah tries his "dab to third man for a single" again, and Collingwood then gives it some welly with a hoisted hook over backward square leg for six. The next ball is a slow long-hop, which goes for four to the same area to bring up the England hundred - although Mills was close to taking one of the catches of the century. Colly then drives to long-on and they trot through for a single.

"Andy from Brisbane: Tell him you SLIPped on some MUSTARD and fell OVER, hurting your SIDE, BOTTOM and wRIGHT LEG-BYE hitting the floor, CREASEing up in pain"
Quijibo81, Glasgow, in the TMS inbox

11th over - Eng 89-4
Colly and Shah exchange singles as Southee continues for his third over. Jesse Ryder, fielding on the boundary, takes a swig of water from a bottle. Another Colly single, then Shah carefully dabs one to third man for another one. What about a boundary, chaps? They've dried up as Colly can only manage a single off the last ball.

"I sat with Paul Hitchcock on the plane here - he's a delightful man, but he's been hit around the park"
Jonathan Agnew on TMS

10th over - Eng 84-4
Styris is quickly through his overs - Colly takes a single and then Shah is surprised at the amount of bounce Styris is getting. But the next ball is shorter and Shah comfortably hooks his former Middlesex team-mate backward of square leg for four. He then runs a two to point.

9th over - Eng 77-4
New batsman is Owais Shah, but he's at the non-striker's end as they crossed on the catch. Colly off-drives his first ball for a single. Shah sees off the rest of the over safely.

"Just got back from a night out in sunny Loughborough (that famous drinking university with a cricketing problem!) MONTY IS OUR HERO! My blonde mate has just asked how come they are playing cricket in daylight when its dark outside! Come on give Tredders a game, absolutely awesome for Kent in Twenty20, the main reason we won the cup!"
From the Butler Court Cricket Massive aka Tom, Tommy, Seamus and Jim, in the TMS inbox

8.2 overs - WICKET - Mustard c Mills b Southee 40 - Eng 76-4
Mustard is beaten outside off-stump by a good yorker-length delivery from Southee. The Colonel then skies one high into the air, and it's a good catch taken by Mills at long-on, who falls onto his back as he takes the catch. 40 from 24 balls for the Durham man.

8th over - Eng 76-3
The new batsman is captain Paul Collingwood. The Colonel and the Captain in together, this is starting to feel like an episode of "Allo Allo"... the Penguin shuffles his field for the left-handed Colonel, who clubs one over extra cover for four. He takes a single off the last ball - five runs from the over.

7.3 overs - WICKET - Bell run out 1 - Eng 71-3
Martin takes a rest, Scott "The Penguin" Styris enters the attack with his dibbly-dobbly medium pace. After two dot balls, they try to take a cheeky single to a misfield, and Bell is well out of his ground as Ross Taylor's throw breaks the stumps.

"Hello from Perth, WA. Our 50-day drought has just broken with pretty much torrential rain for the past 10 hours. Following the cricket on the web, and looking forward to a great victory for England"
Tina, Perth, Western Australia, in the TMS inbox

7th over - Eng 71-2
New batsman Ian Bell dabs an easy single to midwicket to keep the strike.

6.5 overs - WICKET - Pietersen lbw b Southee 3 - Eng 70-2
Hitchcock's off after that 22-run over which, from a NZ point of view, would not be out of place in a scary movie directed by his namesake Alfred. Tim Southee takes up the attack, and he looks very young - he was born on 11 December 1988. Makes some of us feel very old. At least (for his sake) the fielding restrictions are off. Mustard and KP exchange singles, then Mustard slogs at one which gets an inside edge and is half-stopped by the diving McCullum as they run one. The next ball is a full toss, but hits KP on the pad - he's just about plumb. A big wicket for the Kiwis.

6th over - Eng 67-1
Kevin Pietersen cover-drives his first ball, doesn't quite get hold of it but they run two.

5.5 overs - WICKET - Wright b Martin 30 - Eng 65-1
Martin continues for his third over. Wright aims towards cow corner and it takes a TV replay to confirm that the ball hit the rope and so earns the Sussex man four rather than six. He swings and misses at the next two. More baseball slogging, but it brings him a cross-batted four just past the bowler. he then tries another agricultural heave at the fifth ball of the over, but fails to pick the yorker and is clean bowled. That's 30 from 19 balls for Wright - a good start for England. Here comes KP.

"England have hit three sixes that have landed between the boundary rope and the stands. If they pushed the rope back all the way, they wouldn't have been sixes"
Dermot Reeve on TMS

5th over - Eng 57-0
A group of female cheerleaders (dressed in skimpy yellow vests and beige cargo trousers) come on to the boundary area, dance for about 11 seconds and then go back into the crowd. Change of bowling - on comes Paul Hitchcock, who apparently also holds down another job working for a well-known computer company. He looks like, dare I say, a typical New Zealand medium-pace trundler, and the Colonel summarily despatches his first ball over long-on for six. After he takes a single, Wright then goes aerial, smashing a four and then a huge straight six. After he takes a single, Mustard's straight-drive evades the diving Peter "Two-Metre Peter" Fulton and it goes for four. 22 from the over. Wow.

4th over - Eng 35-0
Mustard rotates the strike with a single, before Wright pugnaciously off-drives Martin for four towards a stand which has been demolished. The openers dig out a single apiece - Martin's getting a bit of pace here, but Wright flashes at the last ball which sails over the newly-brought-in point fielder for four.

"Morning from sunny Dubai, hopefully the boys can carry forward the momentum from the last game and notch up another victory"
Adam, Dubai, in the TMS inbox

"Morning/evening MM. Not written in since England won the Ashes in such dramatic (and alien) fashion against the now semi-retired Aussies. Clearly this message is therefore a portend of a surely imminent equally dramatic series win for England"
Hitcho, Canada, in the TMS inbox

3rd over - Eng 24-0
The Colonel falls to the turf as he digs out a low slider from Mills. But then, it's "pure baseball" from Mustard as he smacks a full-toss for a fairly straight six, in the manner of a home run to the centre field fence. Mustard is clearly happy to swing at every ball if he can, and he swings and misses at the next two, before steering an on-driven four to long-off. The last ball is slower, but he steers a single to long-on to keep the strike.

"Good morning from snowy, slushy Moscow. Looking forward to some more batting fireworks and some entertaining banter"
Kurt M. Sagovac, Russia, in the TMS inbox

2nd over - Eng 13-0
The shaven-headed Chris Martin, on his home ground, takes the second over and Wright swipes a single to get him off the mark. Mustard digs out another single, Wright dabs into the covers and has to dive full-length to make his ground. Then, an astonishing shot from the Colonel - he swings at a straight one, aiming over midwicket, but it sails just over third man's outstretched hand for six! Martin is a little angry at this, and strays with a wide - while Arlo notes that Alison Mitchell, who will be updating BBC Radio Five Live listeners today, is wearing a turquoise coat (NZ colours).

"My second 3.30pm sickie in a week, is that a bit risky? First one I told my boss I had 'the runs' which I was very pleased with, as I managed to incorporate a cricket theme into my fibbing, which I thought was quite clever and ironic at the same time. Any ideas what I can use this time?"
Andy, Brisbane, in the TMS inbox

"This four-tier stand we're in is absolutely enormous, it wouldn't be out of place at the MCG"
Arlo White on TMS

1st over - Eng 2-0
The Colonel gets England under way with a pulled single from Mills' first delivery. With Wright taking strike, it's the old left-hand/right-hand combo that fielders and bowlers hate. Wright has a little trouble getting Mills away, but eventually fends him off for a leg-bye. The last ball is short, the Colonel hooks and misses and it goes through to wickie/stand-in skipper McCullum.

"These turquoise New Zealand shirts are retro-retro - for their first Twenty20 international against Australia they wore the beige kit from the 1980s, but now they're back at the 1999 World Cup with the turquoise"
Arlo White on TMS

0558: It's Luke Wright opening up with the Colonel, while Kyle Mills takes the new ball - and Arlo White is on TMS, fresh from the Super Bowl at the weekend. Here we go.

"New Zealand will miss Oram, as he and Jesse Ryder were their only batsmen to face more than 10 balls in the first game"
Former Warwickshire, Sussex and England all-rounder Dermot Reeve on TMS

0553: While England keeper Phil "The Colonel" Mustard tells Alison Mitchell on TMS how he relishes standing up to the stumps, here are the full teams:

New Zealand: BB McCullum (capt, wkt), JD Ryder, RL Taylor, SB Styris, JM How, D Flynn, PG Fulton, PA Hitchcock, KD Mills, TG Southee, CS Martin.

England: LJ Wright, P Mustard (wkt), KP Pietersen, IR Bell, PD Collingwood (capt), OA Shah, AD Mascarenhas, GP Swann, SCJ Broad, RJ Sidebottom, JM Anderson.

Umpires are Billy "Inspector Gadget" Bowden and his Kiwi compatriot Gary Baxter. Third ump (TV replays) is Evan Watkin, reserve ump (replacement balls and the like) is Dave Quested. Match referee is Australia's Alan Hurst, and completing the line-up this morning is Oliver Brett, who's my "wing-man" on match report duties.

"I saw (injured New Zealand captain) Daniel Vettori by the baggage carousel yesterday, and he's coming on really well - if he's not fit for the first ODI, he should be ready to take part in most of the others"
BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew on TMS

0550: Aggers and the TMS crew are up and running, and Aggers reveals the NZ team news - Jacob Oram (hamstring problem, see earlier) will be replaced by left-hander Daniel Flynn for his international debut, while off-spinner Jeetan Patel has been left out after the carnage he suffered at the hands of Dimitri Mascarenhas's bat on Tuesday - he will be replaced by 33-year-old all-rounder Paul Hitchcock, who's a one-day specialist. And news of the toss - England won the toss and are batting first.

0545: And it may be the early hours of the morning, but I'll need your help on the e-mails and texts (606 doesn't open until 0900 GMT). Some of you are clearly on a slightly strange time zone already:

"Morning all, it's a slow old night here in north Notts, looking forward to the boys clock up another victory before I go to sleep!"
Chrissy, north Notts, in the TMS inbox

0541: Some early team news - England are unchanged. More news as we get it.

0538: If you haven't already seen it, do take a look at the TMS Blog where you can read Jonathan Agnew's thoughts on the first match. He praises Hampshire's Dimitri Mascarenhas, who had a great game - and asks the question, why on earth did the Kiwis bat Oram as low as number seven?

0535: Morning, everyone - I hope you're all fit for another Twenty20 smackdown between New Zealand and England.

After a convincing victory by the tourists on Tuesday, can the Black Caps bounce back without big-hitting all-rounder Jacob Oram, who will sit this one out with a hamstring problem?