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Cricket

Panesar shines as England wrap up series win on final day

26/03/2008

England have wrapped up victory in the third Test against New Zealand on the final day to secure a first away Test series win since 2005.

Spinner Monty Panesar took career-best figures of 6-126 as England bowled out their hosts for 431 to secure a 121-run win on the fifth afternoon of the match in Napier.

Black Caps debutant number ten Tim Southee did his best to delay the inevitable, scoring a superb 77 not out off just 40 balls - including nine sixes.

But despite the tail wagging, New Zealand's target of 553 for an unlikely victory proved too steep and they tumbled to a series defeat after winning the first Test in style.

The final day began brightly for the hosts as Ross Taylor (74) and Brendon McCullum (42) got after the bowlers, taking advantage of the space afforded by captain Michael Vaughan's attacking fields to compile a century partnership.

But midway through the morning session, Panesar achieved the breakthrough – dismissing both men in quick succession.

First Taylor was caught at slip by a diving Paul Collingwood, and then an arm ball from the Northamptonshire man evaded McCullum's previously impenetrable defence.

Experienced Daniel Vettori (43) came in alongside young bowler Jeetan Patel (18) and the pair continued to frustrate England.

But again it was the guile of Panesar that broke the partnership. Patel chipped a catch to Stuart Broad to end his resistance, before paceman James Anderson got in on the wickets - having Vettori caught behind after getting movement from the seam.

The lunch break came with the Black Caps teetering on the brink at 359-9 and it looked like matters would be settled soon after the batsmen returned to the crease.

However, Southee's efforts - ably supported by the defence-minded Chris Martin (five) - meant the tourists had to wait to wrap up victory as the 19-year-old bludgeoned the bowlers around the park.

But Ryan Sidebottom took the final wicket of Martin in the 119th over to leave the promising Southee stranded and secure a first away Test series victory since the win over South Africa in 2004-05.