Tim Southee leaves England in tatters with career-best figures

Tim Southee produced New Zealand's best-every bowling figures of, seven for 33, to help his side beat a shell-shocked England by eight wickets in their World Cup 2015 Pool A encounter in Wellington on Friday.

England's captain Eoin Morgan won the toss and elected to bat first. His decision backfired, as New Zealand's fast bowlers, Southee, Trent Boult and Adam Milne made the most of the swing and bounce on offer.

England's batsmen struggled to cope with relentless precision on display from New Zealand's new-ball attack. Ian Bell was Southee's first victim in the fifth over of the match and his departure led to a collapse.

Southee then produced a swinging Yorker to dismiss Moeen Ali an over later. England's top order was in disarray and Gary Balance' dismissal brought England's captain, Morgan to the crease.

A woefully out-of-form Morgan scored a scratchy 17 from 41 balls, before he fell to Daniel Vettori. At that point England struggled at 104 for 4.

Southee returned for his second spell and left England in tatters. He first dismissed James Taylor, then Jos Buttler, Chris Woakes, Stuart Broad and Steven Finn.

Southee's second spell lasted for just four overs and he clinched five wickets. England lasted for just 33.2 overs and managed a score of 123. England's bowlers took the field and hoped to take early wickets, but their plans were left undone by New Zealand's captain Brendon McCullum who attacked from the start.

He thumped England's fast bowlers and helped his side reach 50 in just 3.4 overs and 100 in just 6.4 overs. McCullum spared no bowler and clobbered eight fours and seven sixes, before he was finally dismissed for a 25-ball 77.

McCullums' is the fastest 50 scored in the history of the World Cup and the third fastest 50 of all time. The onslaught took the hosts home in just 12.2 overs.

"A packed house, pretty special to come out in front of them," Southee, the Man of the Match, said. "But I think we have been bowling well as a unit together. Just that today everything fell together. Shane Bond has been great. He gives us a lot of confidence. A lot of work he does behind the scenes. As a player you have a bit of a niggle any time, but with the work that Chris Donaldson has done with us, we are a pretty fit unit. Another great team performance."