Paul Collingwood issued an immediate apology to the New Zealand players after a controversial run-out during the fourth ODI.
England skipper issues apology after run-out drama
Paul Collingwood issued an immediate apology to the New Zealand players after a controversial run-out became the main talking point following the Black Caps' dramatic last-ball victory at the Brit Oval.
The New Zealand run chase in the fourth NatWest one-day international was embroiled in controversy after Grant Elliott was run out late in the run chase following an accidental collision.
With 26 runs required, Elliott was knocked to the floor by bowler Ryan Sidebottom, who ran across the batsman's path to field the ball in his follow-through.
With Elliott poleaxed by the inadvertent body-check, Ian Bell swooped to throw to Kevin Pietersen, who removed the bails at the bowler's end.
Frustration
Then, after a few minutes delay while Elliott lay receiving treatment, England captain Collingwood spurned the opportunity to withdraw his team's appeal.
Under the laws of the game, a captain has the right to do so with the umpire's consent but failure to invoke it left New Zealand reeling at 220-8 in the 44th over.
The Black Caps' senior players Daniel Vettori and Scott Styris were left fuming on their dressing room balcony as both men vented their frustration at England's adjacent dressing room.
The Black Caps went on to win the match by one wicket after last-man Mark Gillespie hit the winning runs with the help of a poorly directed shy at the stumps from Graeme Swann which resulted in overthrows.
"You have to make a split decision at the time and maybe it was not the correct one," Collingwood told
Sky Sports 1.
"The umpire asked me if I was upholding the decision and I said 'yes'.
Good relationship
"Obviously the apologies go out to the New Zealand team over the decision - I made a split second decision on the issue and that was the wrong one.
"It's great being able to look with hindsight and have time to reflect, maybe a different decision would have been made.
"When two players collide like that it is difficult to make a quick decision and maybe in hindsight it was the wrong one."
Collingwood hopes the incident does not sour the relationship between the two teams and added: "They know my thoughts - we have always had a good relationship and we'll take it from there."
Vettori view
New Zealand captain Vettori echoed Collingwood's comments after being caught up in the "raw emotion" of the occasion and after he accepted the England captain's apology hopes the teams can move on from the issue.
"I think we were a little bit contrite ourselves with the raw emotion so I apologise to Paul and his team and now that he has said that I think we can accept it and move on," he said.
"I think with what has happened in the last 18 months in cricket there has been a real push for the spirit of the game.
"That match was as tense as it gets and we were apologetic for maybe the way we acted on the balcony - but it was an emotional game.
"We hope we can move on - we can appreciate Paul words and we want to move on.
"It was really pleasing to bat so well. Some guys who had not been in great touch and they showed great composure so couldn't ask for too much more and we're delighted to win."
