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England struggles to dismiss Kiwis

Ted Corbett

— Photo: AP

CLASSY KNOCK: Ross Taylor’s superb century put his side in a good position on the second day of the Test against England.

MANCHESTER: A strong west wind blew all day as England struggled to dismiss the New Zealanders who must have felt at home as fluttering pennants and the noise of ropes slapping against flag poles probably reminded them of windy Wellington 13,000 miles and 13 hours away. The strong wind unsettled the England attack who could not take advantage of the three minutes of madness in which New Zealand was set back by two run-outs.

In the midst of this amateurish carnage, Ross Taylor completed his second Test century, a pleasant diversion lasting only two hours and fifty minutes, off 130 balls with a six and 13 fours. He might have been quicker but during a fifty stand with Kyle Mills, a surprisingly good batsman for a No.9, Taylor received only 22 balls out of 72 while he was in the 90s. Taylor has been criticised for his all-out attack; ask the denizens of the city that loves Manchester United’s relentless attack if they have any complaints about his undefeated 154 and you will be drowned in guffaws.

A two hour trip to the neighbourhood dentist gave Daniel Flynn a bad night and cost him two more teeth.

By tea he had returned to hospital with suspected concussion that prevented him batting and a statement from the Kiwi dressing room suggested he had been feeling dizzy. Clearly the blow on the mouth from a James Anderson bouncer had been worse than we anticipated.

Poor running

Flynn was probably not in the mood to enjoy the humour of the run-out fiasco; England thought it hilarious. First to go was Jacob Oram who scrambled his way through another short ball attack until at 38 he guided the ball to Alastair Cook at backward point where, from his knees, Cook made a direct hit that left Oram a yard short.

Three minutes later Daniel Vettori, the captain, casually strolled to complete a second run and had both feet off the ground and his bat behind him when Monty Panesar’s throw effected his dismissal.

The expressions “he should know better” and “Panesar of all people” spring to mind but Mills had only his attractive strokes in his eyeline.

By lunch at 322 for six he had raced to 46 as Taylor stuttered to his second Test hundred.

Mills passed his highest Test score of 31 and went on to fifty in 77 balls before he played on to James Anderson trying to cut at 339.

Taylor cut loose with three sixes off Sidebottom and one off Anderson to reach 150 in 172 balls, the third highest score by a New Zealander in England.

England, which has still not imposed itself on this Test series, began with Andrew Strauss and Alistair Cook batting attractively.

However, in the 10th over Cook was leg before wicket to the tall pace bowler Ian O’Brien.

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