1st Test Newzealand v England at Lord’s – May 15-19, 2008 – Day 3

May 17th, 2008 | by ricket | 64 views

Sidebottom rectified his performance and claimed four wickets for five runs in 10.1 overs to dismiss New Zealand for 277 after they had resumed on 208 for six.

During a second day disrupted with five interruptions for bad light, which restricted play to just 55.4 overs, the importance of Sidebottom’s revival was underlined by openers Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss setting a nice platform for an England lead by guiding them to 68 without loss.

Having batted through the difficult, swing-friendly conditions on the previous day the tourists set out to win a battle of attrition with an England attack determined to make a breakthrough by bowling disciplined lines and lengths.

It did not make for particularly entertaining viewing, especially in an age of high-tempo Twenty20 cricket.

The tourists added just 14 runs in the opening 10 overs, and it took Sidebottom to break the stalemate and end Jacob Oram’s defiant innings.

All-rounder Oram had battled for over two hours for his 28 providing excellent support to Brendon McCullum the previous evening and captain Daniel Vettori for 43 frustrating minutes in gloomy conditions at the start of play.

Cook was particularly dominant, taking 14 off one over from 19-year-old Southee and while Strauss was more circumspect, he grew in confidence sufficiently to pull Chris Martin through midwicket for one of two boundaries.

But with little prospect of the light improving when the players came off the field for a third time shortly before 6pm, England were denied the opportunity to build on their promising start and on yet another impressive intervention from their player of the year.