Christchurch, February 7:

The England cricket team again outclassed New Zealand when Paul Collingwood and Owais Shah reversed a batting slump to engineer a 50-run win in their Twenty20 match here on Thursday.

England posted 193-8 and New Zealand could only manage 143-8 in reply. The win wrapped up the festival section of the tour for England 2-0, giving them a psychological edge as they head into a series of five one-day matches starting on Saturday followed by three Tests next month.

After a rollicking start by Luke Wright and Phil Mustard, who clouted 65 in 5.5 overs, the next 15 balls saw England lose four wickets for 11 to be 76-4. Tim Southee, 19, claimed the prized scalps of Mustard (40) and Kevin Pietersen (three). Chris Martin bowled Wright (30) and Ian Bell was run out (one).

But if New Zealand thought they had England on the ropes they were quickly corrected as Shah and Collingwood put on 102 in 62 balls for the fifth wicket. Captain Collingwood had five fours and three sixes in his 54 off 28 deliveries while Shah faced 35 balls for 47 including four fours and two sixes.

Both fell in consecutive balls from Paul Hitchcock bringing in Dmitri Mascarenhas who avoided the hat-trick with a six.

New Zealand started their chase for 194 to win with a Jesse Ryder boundary off the first ball but lost their way soon after. Halfway through the innings they were four wickets down and well behind on the run rate with only 72 on the board.

Without Jacob Oram, who brought some respectability to New Zealand’s first match performance, the home side had little chance of a late run feast. Jamie How top scored with 31, Kyle Mills was not out 30 and Ross Taylor made 21 but no one appeared at ease against a tight bowling attack.

Ryan Sidebottom was again miserly with 2-19 off his four overs while Mascarenhas finished with 2-25 and Graeme Swann 2-30.