Michael Vaughan's first-up match heroics in yesterday's series-equalling thriller at Eden Park have made him flavour of the week in England's Sunday newspapers.

But, as with New Zealanders now embroiled in the annual diet of Super 12 rugby, so the English, who are in the midst of their soccer season, are forever competing with soccer for news space, the prospect of a series final has provided plenty of news space for the cricket.

A sampling of English opinion follows:

The Sunday Times: "If England's cricketers ever learn how to leave the blocks fast they could be world-beaters, because they certainly know how to fight themselves out of corners. A clinical performance in Auckland yesterday, their second in four days, secured a win by 33 runs to level the one-day series at 2-2 and render the humiliation in Wellington last weekend a distant memory.

"Not for the first time, Nasser Hussain and his team have transformed themselves from chumps to champs in little more time than it takes to write their obituaries. Now all eyes turn to Dunedin on Tuesday, where they will start favourites to win a series they looked certain to lose after going 2-0 down with a perplexing lack of focus.

"Seven days ago, there were villains galore. Yesterday, in front of a capacity crowd of 35,000 eager to see the home side put matters beyond reach, several of the visitors vied for the limelight as the hosts looked more like the drop-outs on Eden Park's portable drop-in pitch.

"If one man did more than any other to set up victory it was Michael Vaughan. Bristling to justify his recall in place of Owais Shah after impressing his captain in the nets on Friday, he hit the ball as sweetly as he can ever have done for 59 at better than a run per ball. It was an innings that gave substance to the middle of an England innings of 193 for six, reduced from 50 to 40 overs by two stoppages for rain."

The Guardian: "With more drama than a Coronation Street episode at Eden Park, even a Duckworth popped in at half-time to tell us how many runs New Zealand wanted. With all that was going on, it was hard to believe that it wasn't Vera.

"Messrs Duckworth and Lewis conspired through their unfathomable but ultimately fair system to invite New Zealand to score 30 more than England scored for victory. The upshot was that in an incident-packed, rain-interrupted game, England won by 33 runs to square the series 2-2 with one match to play in Dunedin on Tuesday.

"According to the playing conditions, this 50-over game was scheduled to be played over two days in the event of rain, but was reduced to 46 then 40 overs per side much to the enjoyment of a capacity 35,000 crowd. Confusion was the order of the early part of the day as England made a workmanlike 193 for six.

"On a pitch prepared on the number-two ground and transported 300 yards on a huge wheeled cradle, both sets of bowlers enjoyed themselves, while Graham Thorpe and Michael Vaughan excelled with the bat. Thorpe's 59 in 67 balls was a masterly exhibition of his craft, all nudged singles and thumping boundaries. He has not had the easiest of times lately, but his domestic situation is now more clear to him and his cricket will prosper once more as a result.

"Vaughan was a revelation as he dominated even Thorpe with his innings of 59 in 53 balls. He also held two quality catches early in New Zealand's innings before his untimely exit from the field with a jarred shoulder. His innings was all that a one-day knock should be, with plenty of straight drives, square cuts and pulls, coupled with that deft glide to third man. This was not a cobbled-together innings but one of great maturity."

The Independent on Sunday: "From zero to hero is usually a long, arduous journey between diverse points separated by rather more than 18 letters of the alphabet. England have made it look as easy as ABC in a week.

"After being two down in the series against New Zealand and all but out, they pulled level yesterday with one match to play. Seven days ago the tourists were washed up when they were all out for 89, suffered an abject defeat by 155 runs and were fortunate to keep it so close. Now, they are riding the crest of a wave.

"It was New Zealand's turn to flounder, although when they were drowning in Eden Park last night they still managed a determined wave. Having been dealt an unkind hand by the vagaries of the Duckworth-Lewis Method - though coldly statistical vagaries - they were simply never on the required pace."

The Sunday Telegraph: "First it was India who were given a shock, and now it is New Zealand. England are making a habit of fighting back when all hope looks lost, and Saturday's win, with a little help from the Duckworth-Lewis method, has set up a mouth-watering series finale on Tuesday.

"Reading the newspapers in New Zealand last Sunday, you could have been forgiven for thinking England were one of the worst teams to have set foot in their country after the annihilation in Wellington. New Zealanders must surely have wondered how England had hit back to level the series 3-3 in India, of all places. Now they understand why, and Nasser Hussain's team must start as favourites in Dunedin after squaring the series at 2-2.

"Brilliant batting from Michael Vaughan and Graham Thorpe set up the prospect of a commanding total until two lengthy breaks for rain curtailed England's innings by 10 overs, and then the Duckworth-Lewis method intervened to leave New Zealand with a stiff target of 223 in 40 overs after England had made 193 for six.

"Their top order again made heavy work of it and, despite explosive batting from Chris Cairns - the first time he has fired with the bat this series - and Andre Adams, the task was too great."

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