3rd Test: England Win Series in Style! Beat New Zeland by an Innings and 9 Runs!

In the third and final test of the series, New Zealand started with the final test with the hope to level the series. But, it went against them and they lost the series 2-0 with the 1st test drawn.

New Zealand won the toss and put England to bat. Though Vettori's team picked the first 5 top order wickets for 86, Pietersen played an innings of his life. Strauss (37), Cook (6), Vaughan (16), Bell (0), and Collingwood (0) failed miserably giving a bright chance to New Zealand.

But, Pietersen along with Ambrose built the innings slowly and steadily. They both added 161 runs for the 6th wicket. Pietersen got out caught behind of O'Brien for well made 115 off 223 balls with 14 fours. Ambrose fell after adding 15 to the England total. At this stage of the game, New Zealand still had a good chance with England struggling 262 for 7.

On could easily say that it is one of those matches were the bowling team did not put pressure on the tail enders or bwol on the right areas. Broad and Anderson added66 for the 7th wicket in which Broad scored an useful 64. Milis and O'Brien picked 3 and 4 wickets respectively. England finished their 1st innings at 364.

New Zealand batting struggled like England at the beginning losing 6 wickets for 93, but like England, they were not able to bounce back. How top scored with 40. Taylor (21) and Hopkins (15) were the other two digit scorers.

Anderson was in song. The similar dismissal of Redmond and McCullum were master piece. He pitched up and middle stump and left the batsman. Both of them missed the line and the off stump uprooted. He picked all the 6 wickets that fell at the end of Day 2.

On Day 3, Sidebottom picked a wicket and Broad picket 2. Anderson added one more to his tally to finish his figures at 7 for 43 in his 21.3 overs which had 8 maidens.

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England forced the follow on with a lead of 241 runs. New Zealand, though did a better job than the first innings, but could not make up the last 9 runs deficit to make England bat again.

McCullum scored 71 and Oram was not out on 50. Flynn scored 49. But all these were not enough to avoid the innings defeat. Sidebottom picked 6 wickets in the 2nd innings, Anderson and Broad picked 2 each.

Anderson was declared man of match; Strauss and Vettori were decalred joint winners of Man of the Series.

Test: 3
Venue: Trent Bridge, Nottingham, England
Teams: England and New Zealand
Captains: Michael Vaughan and Daniel Vettori
Toss: New Zealand won the toss and decided to field
Match Result: England won by an innings and 9 runs
Series Result: 2-0 (England won the series; first test drawn)
Man of the Match: JM Anderson off England
Man of the Series: AJ Strauss of England and Daniel Vettori of New Zealand
Score:

England 1st Innings 364 all out in 126.5 overs (AJ Strauss 37, KP Pietersen 115, TR Ambrose 67, SCJ Broad 64, JM Anderson 28, KD Mills 3 for 76, IE O'Brien 4 for 74)

New Zealand 1st Innings 123 all out in 46.3 overs (JM How 40, JM Anderson 7 for 43, SCJ Broad 2 for 10)

Beat New Zealand 2nd Innings (follow on--trail by 241 runs) 232 all out in 72.3 overs (BB McCullum 71, DR Flynn 49, JDP Oram 50 not out, RJ Sidebottom 6 for 67, JM Anderson 2 for 55, SCJ Borad 2 for 77)

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2nd Test: England win by 6 Wickets

New Zealand messed up their batting in the second innings, which resulted in England leading the series 1-0. After deciding to bat first, though New Zealand struggled losing 4 wickets for 123 runs. Taylor's briliant 154 helped New Zealand to post a decent total on the board. Mill's added 57 to his part and took New Zealand to 381.

England's first innings was not that great. The first four players 135 runs in total and then no one touched double digit except Broad, who scored a decent 30. Vettori picked 5 wickets. England were all out for 202 giving 179 runs lead to New Zealand.

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With the lead of 179 in hand, any team would have tried to add another 200 to 250 and put pressure on the last innings. But, wonderful bowling by Panesar helped England bundle the New Zealand for 114. Panesar picked 6 wickets giving away 37 runs in his 17 over spell which had 5 maiden overs and giveen as the man of the match. JM How was the top scorer for New Zealand with 29.

Chasing 294, England should thank Strauss this time for leading the fight with a wonderful century. The jouney was easy for them and target never looked dangerous. He was supported well by skipper Vaughan (48), Pietersen (42).

Test: 2
Venue: Oldtrafford, Manchester, England
Teams: England and New Zealand
Captains: Michael Vaughan and Daniel Vettori
Toss: New Zealand won the toss and decided to bat
Match Result: England won by 6 wickets
Series Result: 1-0 (England leading the series; first test drawn)
Man of the Match: MS Paensar off England
Score:

New Zealand 1st Innings 381 all out in 90.3 overs (JM How 64, AJ Redmond 28, LRPL Taylor 154, JDP Oram 38, KD Mills 57, RJ Sidebottom 2 for 86, JM Anderson 4 for 118)

England 1st Innings 202 all out in 83.3 overs (AJ Strauss 60, MP Vaughan 30, KP Pietersen 26, SCJ Broad 30, KD Mills 2 for 38, IE O'Brien 3 for 49, DL Vettori 5 for 66)

New Zealand 2nd Innings (lead by 179 runs) 114 all out in 41.2 overs (JM How 29, JAH Marshall 28, RJ Sidebottom 2 for 26, MS Panesar 6 for 37)

lost to England 2nd Innings (target 294 runs) (AJ Strauss 106, AN Cook 28, MP Vaughan 48, KP Pietersen 42)

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Strauss Take England to 1-0 Lead!

Struass century in the 2nd innings gave a victory to England in the 2nd test. Chasing a target of 294, Strauss played sensibly and scored a brilliant century off 186 balls with 12 fours. Skipper Vaughan scored an useful 48 and Kevin Pietersen scored 42. The second wicket partnership of 90 runs between Strauss and Vaughan proved vital for England. Third wicket partnership of 85 also added problems to New Zealand as they were not able to break the partnership.

Panesar who captured 6 wickets in the 2nd innings declard man of the match.

England is leading three match series 1-0 with the first test drawn.

Score:
Test: 2
Teams: England and New Zealand
Captains: MP Vaughan and DL Vettori
Toss: New Zealand won the toss and decide to bat
Result: England won by 6 wickets
Series Result: England leading by 1-0
Man of the Match: MS Panesar off England

New Zealand 1st Innings 381 all out in 90.3 overs (JM How 64, AJ Redmond 28, LRPL Taylor 154, JDP Oram 38, KD Mills 57, RJ Sidebottom 2 for 86, JM Anderson 4 for 118)

England 1st Innings 202 all out 83.3 overs (AJ Strauss 60, MP Vaughan 30, KP Pietersen 26, SCJ Broad 30, KD Mills 2 for 38, IE O'Brien 3 for 49, DL Vettori 5 for 66)

New Zealand 2nd Innings 114 all out in 41.2 overs (JM How 29, JAH Marshall 28, RJ Sidebottom 2 for 26, MS Panesar 6 for 37)

England 2nd Innings (target 294 runs) 294 for 4 in 88 overs (AJ Strauss 106, AN Cook 28, MP Vaughan 48, KP Pietersen 42)

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 on top in final test!

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)