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Cricket

Hat-trick hero Sidebottom confident of famous England win

08/03/2008

Seam bowler Ryan Sidebottom has said England's players are "on a high" and confident of winning the first Test against New Zealand in Hamilton.

The Nottinghamshire man was the tourists' talisman as he took 5-37, including a wicket with the third delivery of the innings and a hat-trick in the 30th and 32nd overs.

And he has spoken of the lift his performance has given the England dressing room, saying the players are now confident they can complete what would be a remarkable turnaround to win the first Test.

"The boys are on a high but it's a big session tomorrow," he said afterwards.

"Let's hope we can put pressure on them, get the last couple of wickets and knock them off.

"The guys are confident now and it just shows what an hour can do."

After Sidebottom's early breakthrough in dismissing Black Caps opener Matthew Bell, Jamie How and Stephen Fleming looked to be setting themselves for big totals as they took the score on to 99-1.

But Sidebottom claimed the efforts of England's bowling attack, which saw him ably supported by an on-song Matthew Hoggard and spinner Monty Panesar, sparked a remarkable turnaround.

"We needed a couple of early wickets and after a couple of early boundaries the momentum changed," the paceman explained.

"We didn't bowl well the other day but it was reversing, so it was nice to get a few in the right area."

Sidebottom also reserved praise for Alastair Cook, who added to his three catches in the first innings with more important takes to dismiss Fleming and Mathew Sinclair - two of the bowlers three wickets for his hat-trick.

"Cooky has caught fantastically well this Test and we've been working hard on our fielding. Long may it continue," he added.