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Sidebottom salvo puts England in commanding position

23/03/2008

An outstanding bowling performance from Ryan Sidebottom has put England in control of the third Test against New Zealand in Napier.

Sidebottom recorded figures of 7-47, the best by an Englishman in New Zealand, to reduce the hosts to 168 all out before the tourists closed on 91-2.

England resumed on 240-7 but could only add another 13 runs to their overnight total after losing Stuart Broad to the first ball of the day. Tim Southee picked up the wicket of Sidebottom to end the innings and earned himself a five-for on debut.

New Zealand began their innings in fine style, despite losing Matthew Bell (0) in the first over, with former captain Stephen Fleming leading the charge.

The Kiwis appeared to target James Anderson and the Lancastrian struggled to impose himself on the batsmen.

Fleming struck three fours and a six from one Anderson over and he and Jamie How were taking the game away from England when they reached lunch at 93-1.

But Fleming (59) failed to convert a promising fifty into a century for the 35th time in his career when he edged Sidebottom to Paul Collingwood at slip just after the break.

That signalled a complete collapse by the Black Caps. How (44), Ross Taylor (2) and Matthew Sinclair (7) fell in quick succession, with Sidebottom and Broad sharing the wickets.

The Yorkshireman was not finished though and was soon in the wickets again when Brendon McCullum (9) edged a ball back on to his stumps and Grant Elliott (6) became his sixth victim when he nicked one behind to Tim Ambrose.

Stuart Broad claimed the wickets of Jeetan Patel (4) and Southee (5) before Sidebottom wrapped the innings up when Daniel Vettori (14) edged him to Alastair Cook to give England an unlikely first-innings lead of 85.

Despite still having more than three days left in the game Michael Vaughan was out early in England's second innings – playing a rash pull shot straight to McCullum.

Andrew Strauss and Cook had put on a partnership of 72 before the Essex man was caught behind of Patel. Strauss ended the day unbeaten on 42 with Kevin Pietersen also at the crease on seven.