McCullum hails Rutherford as Kiwis edge England

LONDON: New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum praised Hamish Rutherford for an "outstanding" innings as the Black Caps beat England by just five runs to win the first Twenty20 international at The Oval on Tuesday.

McCullum may have top-scored with 68 but it was left-handed opener Rutherford's dashing 62 that caught the eye during the pair's second-wicket stand of 114 after Boyd Rankin struck early on his England debut to leave the Kiwis one for one.

Defeat meant England had again lost by five runs after going down by that margin in a Champions Trophy final against India reduced to 20 overs per side by rain at Edgbaston on Sunday.

England needed six for a tie off the last ball that would have forced a 'super-over' but that proved beyond Ravi Bopara, who finished on 30 not out as New Zealand took a 1-0 lead in this two-match series.

"Hamish Rutherford was outstanding, the way he struck the ball," said Brendon McCullum. "Boyd Rankin was getting steep bounce and to see Hamish strike the ball so well settled the whole batting line-up."

Rutherford, one of six players who made ducks as Essex were dismissed for just 20 by Lancashire in a County Championship match earlier this month, said: "It's nice to get a few out of the middle.

"Anything over 200 is competitive but it was only a par score considering the flat pitch and the short boundary," added Rutherford. (AFP)