New Zealand in big deep trouble at the end of day 3. They have virtually lost the series and the test match, it is just a matter of time or rain that should save them from this big defeat!
Sidebottom's beautiful second and subsequent spells helped England to come back into the game. Day 2 was completely bowler's day which saw 15 wickets fall. Resuming the day 2 at 240 for 7, England lost the remaining 3 wickets for 13 runs and ended the first innings at 253.
New Zealand started the innings with high hope of taking a big lead and putting England in the back seat. England struck in the first over by sending Bell for a duck trapped in front of the wicket. How and the former skipper Fleming added 102 runs for the 2nd wicket and became a threat for England. Sidebottom struck again by pitching the ball up and had Fleming push the ball but edged to second slip. He was out for 59, the only scorer for New Zealand who passed 50. The next 8 wickets fell for 65 runs which was a complete shock to the New Zealand cricket lovers. Sidebottom rattled the New Zealand innings by picking wickets regularly and accompanied by Broad on the other end. The next to go was How. Sidebottom changed the angle and bowled round the wicket. How was made to drive the ball, which took the edge and went to first slip. Broad got Taylor for 2, and the next 3 wickets were picked by Sidebottom again.
This has to be Sidbottom's day and he was on top of the world. Skipper Vettori is the 3rd and final two digit scorer for NZ. He made 14 and was the last bastsman to get out. New Zealand was all out for 168 in 48.4 overs. Do you believe that they're bowled out in less than 50 overs.
With 85 runs ahead of New Zealand, England started the 2nd innings. They had to play 32 overs to complete the 2nd day. They lost two wickets and ended the day at 91. Cook and Vaughan were dismissed for 37 and 4 respectively.
Resuming day 3, both Pietersen was dismissed for 34 when the substitute field Ross Tylor stunned everyone by a brillant catch at first slip. When Pietersen tried to play it on the leg side off Vettori, the ball took the back of the bat and went to first slip. Taylor reacted quickly to grab it, who couldn't have seen the ball at all. England were 140 for 3 at that stage.
Strauss and Bell played sensibly and scored centuries to give England a very big lead. Strauss scored 173 and is still batting with Ambrose. He scored his 100 of 226 balls with 16 fours. Bell scored his century in 150 balls with 16 fours and 2 sixes. They both added 187 for the 4th wicket which really took the game away from NZ. Skipper tried everything to turn the game, but the day belong to England. The consolation came in the form of Bell's wicket, when he tried lot the ball and didn't get the elevation right. Collingwood's dismissal was a soft dismissal, a straight caught and bowled to Vettori.
When will England declare? Whether New Zealand can chase a big total in 2 days time? Whether they will play out all the 150+ overs they need to bat to make a draw?
Short Scores:
England 1st Innings: 253 all out in 96.1 overs (Pietersen 129, Collingwood 30, Broad 42, Martin 2 for 74, Southee 5 for 55, Patel 2 for 37)
New Zealand 1st Innings 168 all out in 48.4 overs (How 44, Fleming 59, Sidebottom 7 for 47, Broad 3 for 54)
England 2nd Innings 416 for 5 in 122 overs at the end of Day 3 (Cook 37, Strauss 173 batting, Pietersen 34, Bell 110, Ambrose 28 batting, Vettori 3 for 135)
No comments:
Post a Comment