Paul Collingwood hailed his side's character as they managed to secure a tie with New Zealand in the fourth ODI in Napier.
Fightback pleases England skipper
Paul Collingwood hailed his side's character as they managed to secure a tie with New Zealand in the fourth one-day international in Napier.
The England skipper thought he side had looked "dead and buried" as the Black Caps took control on the batsman-friendly track.
Chasing England's 340-6, Jamie How had led the hosts' response with a big-hitting 139 to seemingly guide them towards victory.
However, the tourists showed great resilience to snatch a tie - with Luke Wright holding his nerve to prevent New Zealand getting the seven runs they needed for a series-clinching win.
And Collingwood, who smashed a 24-ball half-century, admitted to
Sky Sports: "We were dead and buried going into the last six overs.
"Jamie How played fantastically well but our character was great, we got our yorkers right, the plans were right and we put them under pressure.
"There were a lot of nerves out there."
Collingwood pulled off a surprise by tossing the ball Wright to bowl the final over, despite the Sussex all-rounder having not bowled all day.
Fantastic
And Collingwood was full of credit after Wright's efforts.
He said: "We wanted to take it to the last over, obviously gambled on Wrighty and what a fantastic job he did.
"I could have bowled Wrighty five overs earlier but you want it to go to the last over, that's where the pressure is. I backed him and that was it."
Wright, though, was shocked to be told he was going to bowl that final over.
He added: "I thought Colly was taking the mickey when he told me to warm-up but it was great to get a moment like that."
While England can head to Christchurch for the fifth and final ODI in buoyant mood, New Zealand have been left shattered by the tie.
Having been in control of the game entering the closing overs, Black Caps skipper Daniel Vettori knows his side should have wrapped up the victory.
He said: "It's a game we should have comfortably won from the position we got ourselves in.
"We basically sewed it up and you have to take some responsibility for it. It's one we should have won in the 47th or 48th over.
"There's a little despair in the dressing room."
