Day International between England and New Zealand ended in a controversial no-result with the game just an over away from being declared a “match.” The Black Caps were on 127 for two off 19 overs and needed just seven more off the 20th, assuming they didn't lose a wicket, for victory under the Duckworth-Lewis system. New Zealand was set 160 from 23 overs according to the Duckworth-Lewis calculation used in weather-shortened games, altered from 165 from 24 because of continued rain after England was 162 all out in its 24-over allotment. Although, at that stage, rain was falling heavily the conditions did not appear to be appreciably worse than they had been for some time. Nevertheless, the umpires then took the players off the field with the game just shy of the 20 overs in the second innings needed for a result. The hard-hitting Brendon McCullum was 60 not out, off 51 balls with five fours, while experienced all-rounder Scott Styris was unbeaten on 19. Had it won this would have been New Zealand's first international win of a tour which saw it lose the Test series 2-0 and then suffer a nine-wicket defeat in Friday's lone Twenty20. As it was, England remained 1-0 up in this five-match campaign ahead of the third one-dayer at Bristol. Any New Zealand sense of injustice would have been fuelled by the fact it took England more than an hour to bowl 14 overs and 83 minutes in all to deliver 19. The International Cricket Council (ICC) says teams should bowl an average of 14.28 per hour. “For consistency with our rulings earlier in the day, we had to come off. The two teams were struggling to stand up,” Australian umpire Steve Davis, who together with English on-field colleague Ian Gould took the decision to call the game off, told Sky Sports. “The number of balls left shouldn't come into it, if that's the way the conditions are.” Match referee Javagal Srinath later said England would not face any action over its over-rate. Pakistan security an issue Pakistan's hosting of the Champions Trophy cricket in September will be subject to ongoing scrutiny of the security situation in the country, the International Cricket Council said Wednesday. “The security situation anywhere in the world is very fluid, it can change from time to time,” ICC's acting chief executive Dave Richardson told reporters ahead of the Champions Trophy's launch ceremony. “At this time we are comfortable with the decision that Pakistan has the ability to host the event and the fact is that we are proceeding with the arrangements,” he added. Richardson, ICC President Ray Mali and other ICC officials were visiting Pakistan to inspect the three Champions Trophy venues and to meeting officials of the Pakistan Cricket Board and the government. The Federation of International Cricketers Associations recently expressed concern about hosting the event in Pakistan. Should the political situation become too dangerous in Pakistan, it will be moved to Sri Lanka.
