 Franklin was playing league cricket three weeks ago |
James Franklin was understandably elated following his first five wicket haul in a one-day international as England crumbled at the Riverside. The left-arm swing bowler, called up as a replacement in mid-tour, was man of the match after his 5-42 set up a seven-wicket victory.
"It's a bit different from the Lancashire League," said Franklin, who was club professional at Rishton.
"It just happened to fall my way. To pick up five, I'm really stoked."
Franklin's call-up for the third Test at Trent Bridge earlier this month came more than two years after his previous appearance for the Black Caps.
He rewarded the tour selectors by taking six wickets in the match, although he was unable to prevent his side from suffering a four-wicket defeat.
 | We've waited a while for a complete game and to get on the board with a win is very good  |
The 23-year-old was not in the original squad for the NatWest Series either, but kept his place when Kyle Mills had to return home because of injury. His first victim was England skipper Michael Vaughan, who was bowled for 12 and when he had Ashley Giles caught behind in the 20th over England were 65-7.
"It doesn't help when your first over goes for 12 but luckily enough I had someone like Jake [Oram] at the other end who tightened things up," said Franklin.
"I just tried to give the ball a chance, get it up there, and had a little bit of luck on my side. I'm just rapt to get five-for." New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming was delighted to follow two washed out matches with victory over England.
"We've waited a while for a complete game and to get on the board with a win is very good," he said.
"Considering the Test series, we were very determined to do well in this series and it seemed we were practising for nothing until now.
"There was a little bit in the wicket and we took advantage of that by bowling a good length."