SYDNEY (Reuters):

NEW ZEALAND completed a comfortable 58-run win over England yesterday, all but guaranteeing themselves a place in the tri-series finals against Australia.

Lou Vincent, Ross Taylor and Jacob Oram blasted half-centuries to help New Zealand post a record total of 318 for seven on a perfect batting pitch at the WACA in Perth.

England could manage only 260 for eight in reply after their middle-order collapsed again. They need to win their final two matches against Australia tomorrow night (Jamaica time) then New Zealand next week to have any hope of making the play-offs and salvaging some pride from a disappointing tour.

,b>'Still in it'

"We're still in it," England skipper Andrew Flintoff said, "we have got to play out of our skin - we have got to beat Australia."

England's position would have been even worse had they not managed to scrape past 250 and avoid giving the Kiwis, who dropped three catches in the final few overs, a bonus point.

"We were extremely dis-appointed not to get the bonus point, from a fielding standards point of view we shelled a couple and got a little bit desperate to do it," New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming said. "It would have been nice to win the game emphatically and get another point from it, so it is bitter-sweet."

Makeshift England opener Ed Joyce top-scored with 66 while wicketkeeper Paul Nixon made 49 when the game was as good as over. Ian Bell (31) was the only other player to score more than 20.

New Zealand innings

L. Vincent c Dalrymple b Plunkett