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Tough challenge ahead of England

Ted Corbett

MANCHESTER: England was heading for a humiliating defeat after being bowled out for 202 on the third day of the second Test against New Zealand. They need 294, an unlikely target as the highest fourth innings score to win at Old Trafford is 231.

Sixteen wickets fell in the day for only 240 runs but in a brave search for a miracle the England openers Andrew Strauss and Alistair Cook made 60 before Cook became Vettori’s sixth wicket.

England was 70 for one at the close — still 218 short — but this city’s old enemy, the prolonged downpour, is forecast for the next two days.

Three days ago, when an unchanged side was picked for the fourth successive Test — it has happened only three times before — an Ashes triumph was forecast.

If England loses this Test there will be a lot of rethinking in the next 13 months.

Daniel Vettori, the New Zealand captain was first innings destroyer with five for 66 but the England left arm spinner Monty Panesar recorded his Test best figures of six for 37 as New Zealand collapsed for 114.

New Zealand was without its No.6 batsman Daniel Flynn still recovering after being struck in the mouth and their all-rounder Jacob Oram dropped down the order after hurting his right shoulder in training.

100 for Panesar

Ross Taylor, a first innings century maker, was Panesar’s 100th Test victim, and four of his victims were lbw on a turning pitch.

Taylor was one of only three scores in double figures as Panesar gave an exhibition of exuberance which was over the top even by his standards.

One day a tough match referee will tire of his dancing appeals and take action.

England lost six wickets for only 50 runs in 70 minutes to the endlessly subtle variations of Vettori and the pace of Iain O’Brien and Kyle Mills.

Vettori finished with his second successive five-wicket haul following his man-of-the-match performance at Lord’s.

Kevin Pietersen was caught at slip off Vettori at 11.26 and by 12.36 — just 16 overs later — England was all out.

Ian Bell edged a second catch to Ross Taylor from O’Brien, Vettori mopped up Paul Collingwood and Tim Ambrose and after a series of bold shots from Stuart Broad, who at least looked like a Test cricketer in his 50-ball innings, Mills had the last two wickets.

Aaron Redmond and Jamie How put on 28 before Collingwood caught Redmond at slip off James Anderson. No side has ever lost at this ground after making 380 in its first innings as New Zealand did.

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