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Panesar runs riot to give England edge against Kiwis

25/05/2008

England need 218 more runs to beat New Zealand with nine wickets in hand after a thrilling fourth day of the second Test.

On a day where 16 wickets fell, the home side were at 76-1 at stumps, chasing an Old Trafford-record of 294 to win.

The fact that England have a chance of winning is down to Monty Panesar who took his career best figures of 6-37 as the Kiwis were skittled out for just 114 in their second innings.

Earlier, England looked to have blown their chance of victory when they lost their last six wickets for 50 in their first innings score of 202.

Resuming on 154-2, serious questions will be raised about England's brittle middle order.

Kevin Pietersen continued his wretched form after striding forward and nicking a delivery from Vettori to Ross Taylor at slip for 26.

In the next over, Taylor was again involved in the dismissal of another England batsman when Bell (8) edged a delivery off Iain O'Brien.

Another batsman out of form, Paul Collingwood (2), did not last long after being trapped lbw off Vettori to leave England on 164-7.

At the other end, Stuart Broad showed the batsman how to do it with an aggressive innings which included four boundaries.

Vettori and Taylor continued to be England's nemesis with the pair combing to send Tim Ambrose back to the pavilion after the wicket-keeper edged a delivery to slip.

The day continued to get worse as in the next over Monty Panesar nicked an inswinger from Kyle Mills with wicket-keeper Brendon McCullum taking a spectacular diving catch to his left.

Broad was the last man to fall after making a valiant 30 after skying a delivery from Mills to substitute Jeetan Patel, with England trailing the tourists by 179 runs but avoiding the follow-on.

Vettori's side made a solid start to their second innings until Aaron Redmond fell for 16 after his attempted drive off Anderson fell to Collingwood at gully.

Jamie How and Jamie Marshall kept the scoreboard ticking over by scampering for singles, something which England failed to do yesterday afternoon.

The Kiwis reached 50-2 when How (29) was given lbw by umpire Simon Taufel off Panesar.

Panesar was desperately unlucky not to then dismiss Taylor when he was on five, with his lbw appeals waived away despite replays showing the ball would have struck leg stump.

That sparked the spinner into action and he removed Marshall for 28 with a quicker delivery that Taufel judged lbw.

Panesar continued to terrorize the Kiwis and removed dangerman McCullum two balls later when the wicket-keeper missed a sweep shot with the ball hitting his back leg.

The spinner's next victim was skipper Vettori who skied a delivery to Broad at deep square leg to leave his side on 91-5.

Panesar completed his five-wicket haul in his next over when an umpiring decision went his way after Taylor (15) was given lbw.

The tourists had a lead of 285 runs when they lost their seventh wicket after tea when Jacob Oram swiped at a delivery from Ryan Sidebottom with Ambrose taking a smart catch.

Panesar was back in the wickets again as Mills top-edged a delivery with Ambrose plucking the ball out of the air to leave the Kiwis on 114-8.

It was then announced that Daniel Flynn, who had two teeth removed after being hit with a bouncer from James Anderson on Friday, will not bat in the second innings meaning England needed only one more wicket.

And they soon got their last scalp when Anderson took a good catch at mid-off to remove O'Brien off the bowling of Sidebottom, giving the New Zealanders a lead of 293.

In reply, England made their trademark patient start in their aim to see off the new ball.

Andrew Strauss made 16 off 41 balls while Alaistair Cook hit 16 off 37 balls, with just one boundary to his name.

Cook once again failed to build on a solid start when he edged a delivery from Vetorri to Marshall at slip.

Skipper Michael Vaughan came to the crease and was unbeaten on 12 at the close, as England look to go 1-0 up in the series tomorrow.