Print

Mail

wiki links

England close in on win as Kiwis suffer late blow

England closed on a series-levelling win over New Zealand on the fourth day of the second cricket Test at the Basin Reserve yesterday.

After reaching 293 in their second innings for an overall lead of 437, England had New Zealand 242-6 at stumps, leaving them four wickets and New Zealand 196 runs from victory with a day remaining.

New Zealand's cause was damaged in the final over before stumps when they lost Jacob Oram for 30 after a 69-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Brendon McCullum who was 43 not out when bad light stopped play.

England's chances of victory today are much stronger than New Zealand's with the second new ball one over old and just four late order wickets between them and a win that will tie the three-Test series at 1-1.

New Zealand were unfortunate to lose Oram one ball before bad light ended play yesterday.

Umpires Steve Davis of Australia and Rudi Koertzen of South Africa had already upheld an appeal against the light late in the final session and had taken players from the field for a few minutes.

They ordered a resumption of play in what seemed to be worsening light conditions then, extraordinarily, allowed England to take the new ball in deepening gloom.

Oram was struck on the chest by a ball he clearly did not see then fended a wide delivery from Ryan Sidebottom (3-72) to Kevin Pietersen at first slip.
This story has been viewed 592 times.