Victory against Australia in the finals of the Commonwealth Bank Series will not make up for the Ashes whitewash, but it may hasten the process of restoring some damaged reputations. Senior players who underperformed in the Test matches can now show a sceptical nation that 2005 really was built on substance.

New Zealand are entitled to think that they squandered an opportunity yesterday, but that cannot alter the fact that Paul Collingwood and Andrew Strauss both made their highest scores of the one-day tournament, while Andrew Flintoff produced ten hostile overs and pulled the younger bowlers along in his slipstream.

The combination of Flintoff leading by example and Michael Vaughan in operational command is best for England. The captain’s decisive leadership — evident in bowling changes, positive field placings and sense of when to attack — is not reflected on the scorecard, but it heavily influenced the result.

An admission that he requires further treatment on his hamstring before committing himself to the first of the best-of-three finals, in Melbourne on Friday, is a concern. “It is a bit touch and go, but I will keep working hard and hope that I can make it,” Vaughan said.

For the young players, extra games against Australia mean invaluable experience before the World Cup. Vaughan was sufficiently impressed that they came through what was practically a semi-final that he asked rhetorically: “Who’s to say we won’t be in another one-off game in the World Cup final on April 28?”

Before then, on March 16, they face New Zealand again, with points almost certainly carrying into the Super Eights. The sides would appear to be even, to judge from the scoreline of two wins apiece in this tournament. New Zealand, though, have developed a habit of buckling under pressure.

They were strongly placed in both innings here. First, they reduced England to 52 for three only to concede a total of 270, with the previously out-of-form Strauss and Collingwood adding 103 in 118 balls. Then, with 120 needed from 20 overs and eight wickets in hand, they lost wickets just when they wanted to accelerate.

Stephen Fleming, the New Zealand captain, felt that his side would have won “at a canter” but for setbacks in the second half of the reply. Not least was his own misunderstanding with Ross Taylor that created a dreadful run-out. Although Fleming continued to a personal hundred, it was a slow, scrappy affair.

New Zealand aimed to absorb Flintoff’s overs and try to score more heavily against the rest of the attack. The tactic appeared sound when Liam Plunkett began as waywardly as he had been direct against Australia four days earlier. His first over contained 11 balls, his second lasted for eight.

Vaughan was forced to make four bowling changes in the first 12 overs, delay a Power Play and introduce Monty Panesar earlier than planned. But the spin bowler helped to stem the early flow of runs by deceiving Lou Vincent into an ungainly heave that soared to Flintoff at mid-on.

Both Plunkett and Sajid Mahmood improved in their later spells, when the pitch found a bit of extra zip under the lights. Collingwood used all his nous with variations of pace and consistently second-guessing batsmen, although he must have known that this was his day/night when Scott Styris clubbed a long hop to mid-off.

By the end, his complexion was as red as his hair. His hundred, from 118 balls, included only eight fours and lots of running on a hot afternoon. He found gaps even when New Zealand tried to keep him away from his favoured leg side. Like Strauss, he looked a far happier player as his innings developed.

Vaughan had been bowled by his first legitimate ball — an inswinger from Shane Bond — and Jacob Oram was left to rue a dropped catch in his follow-through with Collingwood on 18, but Jamie Dalrymple again batted effectively late on and the 16 that he and Plunkett took from Bond’s final over proved critical.

— Shane Watson has been called into the Australia squad for the Commonwealth Bank Series finals to replace Andrew Symonds, who tore a bicep tendon on Friday. Cricket Australia is seeking clarification from the ICC over whether Symonds could be taken to the World Cup next month and replaced if his recovery does not go as planned. The all-rounder will be out of action for at least six weeks, which means he would miss the early games but may be fit for the later stages. The 15-man squads must be finalised next week.