New Zealand Blackcaps' Jesse Ryder (left) and Brendon McCullum congratulate each other after their win against England in a one-day international at Seddon Park in Hamilton, yesterday. - AP

HAMILTON, New Zealand (AP):

JESSE RYDER, criticised only days ago as "too fat" to play professional sport, hit an immaculate maiden half century as New Zealand beat England by 10 wickets yesterday in the second limited-overs international.

Former New Zealand wicketkeeper Adam Parore was among those who questioned Ryder's call-up two weeks ago to the Kiwi Twenty20 and one-day squads, saying the stocky Wellington opener lacked the physique to play at the top level.

But in only his second one-day international, after a series of promising performances in two Twenty20 matches and the first one-dayer against England, Ryder smashed an unbeaten 79 as New Zealand took a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

New Zealand first bowled England out for 158 in 35.1 overs in a match reduced by rain from 50 to 36 overs per side. Ryder, 23, and Brendon McCullum (80) then shared a record opening partnership for New Zealand against England as the hosts reached their winning target of 165, revised under the Duckworth-Lewis system, in 18.1 overs.

Ryder reached his half century from 39 balls and went on to 79 with 11 fours and two sixes. McCullum's half century came from only 27 balls, his 80 from 47 balls with eight fours and five sixes. The century-opening stand came off only 66 deliveries.

"They were pretty exciting," New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori said of his openers. "They had me standing out of my seat for a long time.

Young players

"The great thing is they're both pretty young and they could be an exciting opening partnership for us for a long time.

"There's nothing tentative about them. They're both naturally aggressive but they also don't take risks. They play good cricket shots and they should be entertaining crowds for a long time to come."

Earlier, opener Alastair Cook top scored with 53 as England were bowled out five balls before the end of their 36 overs.

A heavy shower after 15 overs reduced the match from 50 to 36 overs. England, then 85 for two and scoring at 5.7 runs per over, lost their last eight wickets for 73 runs after the resumption.

For the second straight match, three run outs contributed to the collapse of the England innings. Cook was run out in the 26th over while Paul Collingwood (one) and Ryan Sidebottom (two) also succumbed to poor judgment of a run.

Recalled medium pacer Michael Mason took 2-29 and was the best of the New Zealand bowlers while Chris Martin took 2-44 and Daniel Vettori two late wickets for 16.

Cook and opening partner Phil Mustard had given England a sound start after they had lost the toss and been sent in to bat. They scored briskly, Cook hitting a series of superb drives among his six fours, as England dashed to 41 by the sixth over.

Martin dismissed Mustard (13) and Ian Bell with successive balls, having Bell caught first ball by wicketkeeper McCullum with an athletic, diving catch.

Cook and Kevin Pietersen were in the process of rebuilding the innings when a heavy shower swept over the ground and chased the players from the field for more than an hour.

When England returned, with Cook 40 not out and Pietersen 29 not out, the innings immediately lost its way. Pietersen was out without adding to his score and wickets fell steadily as an unnecessary panic gripped the English batsmen.

Pietersen was out with the total 90, Collingwood at 91 and Owais Shah, bowled by Mason without scoring, at 97 to take the heart out of the England innings.

"Obviously, we were well beaten tonight," Collingwood said. "No excuses, we just weren't good enough.

"We started well before the rain break but afterward was a devastating period for us."