England Wins Series!

Losing the first test and struggling at 0-1 in the test series, England bounced back beautifully to win the series 2-1. Their form has not been good in the recent past and this should givem them a good relief, especially winning the series abroad.

Monty Panesar took 6 for 126, his career best figures which helped England to win the test and the series. Sidebottom rocked in the first innings and Panesar did the same in the 2nd innings.

Resuming the day 222 for 5, England struck in the 9th over last ball. Taylor was catught by Collingwood for 74. McCullum was bowled in a gap of 3 over and became the 5th victim of Panesar.

A steady 48 run partnership didn't bother England too much because as they were already breaking partnerships often. Panesar removed Patel through a flight delivery which was swept fine but Broad dived and finished with a splendid catch. He was out for 18.

Vettori gave a simple catch to Ambrose and last batsman to be dismissed was Martin. Sidebottom uprooted the off-stump of Martin with that the wonderful series came to an end along with the Test Career of Stephen Fleming.

A positive for New Zealand was the few runs from Southee. In the first test, he took 5 wickets in the first innings and then scored 77 not out in the second innings. He provided good entertainment towards the end of the innings. He scored 77 off 40 balls with 4 fours and 9 sixes. He hit 5 sixes off Panesar including three sixes in the same over and 2 off Anderson.

Toss: England

Result: England won by 121 runs

Serires Result: England won the series 2-1

Player of the Match: Sidebottom (England)

Player of the Series: Sidebottom (England)

Short Score:

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 467 for 7 declared in 131.5 overs (Cook 37, Strauss 177, Pietersen 34, Bell 110, Ambrose 31, Broad 31 not out, Patel 2 for 104, Vettori 4 for 158)

New Zealand 2nd Innings 431 all out in 118.5 overs (Bell 69, Fleming 66, Taylor 74, McCulum 42, Vettori 43, Southee 77 Not Out, Broad 2 for 78, Panesar 6 for 126)

England need 5 wickets to Win Series!

Resuming the Day 4 at 416 for 5 with a over all lead of 501, England delcared their 2nd innings at 467 with the target of 553 to win. Strauss was out on 177 and Ambrose was out for 31.

New Zealand were 222 for 5 at the end of Day 4 in the allotted 82 overs. They have to play the full quota of 90 overs or score 331 runs. Bell and Fleming were playing well and scored their half-century. They both added 99 runs for the 2nd wicket when the partnership was broken by Panesar. Soon Fleming followed him, out for 66 off Panesar. Broad picked 2 wickets and Panesar 3 wickets.

Short Score:

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 467 for 7 declared in 131.5 overs (Cook 37, Strauss 177, Pietersen 34, Bell 110, Ambrose 31, Broad 31 not out, Patel 2 for 104, Vettori 4 for 158)
New Zealand 2nd Innings (553 to win) 222 for 5 in 82 overs at the end of Day 4 (Bell 69, Fleming 66, Taylor 34 batting, Broad 2 for 40, Panesar 3 for 49)

England need 4 wickets to win 2nd Test!

England has a bright chance of levelling the series against New Zealand. With a target 438 in almost 2 days to go and close to 174 overs of play, New Zealand lost the first wicket at 18 in the form of in-form batsman How. Bell fell for 29 caught behind off Broad. Fleming followed Bell in the same over for 31. The double blow in the same over put New Zealand in the back seat.

Sinclair and Taylor played sensibly and hit few good fours. Sinclair was caught by Bell off Anderson for 39 and he added 81 for the 4th wicket. Taylor was batting well and scored his first 50 off 65 balls with 8 fours. He failed to convert his 50 into an hundred. Sidebottom gave the breakthrough by sending Taylor to pavilion for 55.

Oram and McCullum added 69 runs for the 6th wicket. Just before the light was offered to the batsman, Oram was dismissed for 30 caught at gully by Pietersen off Sidebottom.

Sidebottom ended the day with 3 crucial wickets and broad picked 2. With one more day to, England requires 4 wickets and New Zealand either has to protect the day or score 196 runs. McCullum batting with 43 and skipper Vettori is along with him in zero.

Earlier, started the day at 277 for 9, England added 16 runs to the score and the last wicket was taken by Martin.

The score so far:

Toss: New Zealand
Result: Awaited
Man of the Match: Awaited
Score:
England 1st Innings 342 in 107 overs (Cook 44, Vaughan 32, Pietersen 31, Collingwood 65, Ambrose 102, Mills 2 for 86, Gillespie 4 for 79, Oram 3 for 46)
New Zealand 1st Innings 198 in 57.5 overs (Fleming 34, Taylor 53, McCullum 25, Vettori 50 not out, Anderson 5 for 36, Collingwood 3 for 23)
England 2nd Innings 2943 in 97.4 overs (Cook 60, Strauss 44, Bell 41, Collingwood 59, Martin 2 for 77, Mills 2 for 59, Oram 3 for 44, Gillespie 2 for 63)
New Zealand 2nd Innings 438 to win - 242 for 6 with one more day to go (Bell 29, Fleming 31, Sinclair 39, Taylor 55, Oram 30, McCullum 43 batting, Sidebottom 3 for 72, Broad 2 for 38)