Monty Panesar took a Test best 6-37 to lead an astonishing England fightback on the third day of the second Test against New Zealand at Old Trafford on Sunday. After dismissing the Kiwis for just 114 in their second innings, England were 76-1 in their second innings, needing a further 218 runs to go 1-0 up in the three-match series.
Darrell Hair made a low-key return to top-level cricket on Friday, two years after presiding over the first forfeited Test. The umpire, who was reinstated in March after a 16-month ban, officiated as England’s second Test against New Zealand started at Old Trafford.
New Zealand all-rounder Jacob Oram chose the right occasion and the perfect venue to score his first Test century against England on Monday with a match-saving innings in the first Test at Lord’s. New Zealand held an overall lead of only 78 with four wickets down when wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum retired hurt and was taken to hospital after a blow to his left forearm.
Brendon McCullum led a New Zealand fightback against England with a run-a-ball 97 to help his side to 208-6 when bad light ended the first day’s play of the first Test at Lord’s on Thursday. But three runs short of what would have been the wicket-keeper’s third Test hundred, McCullum was bowled by a quicker delivery from left-arm spinner Monty Panesar.
Monty Panesar took England to the brink of a series victory as New Zealand slumped to 222-5, 330 runs in arrears at stumps on the fourth day of the third cricket Test on Tuesday. With New Zealand set a record target of 553 to win, Stephen Fleming and Matthew Bell provided stout resistance for the second wicket before Panesar removed both batsmen.
A sensational hat-trick by Ryan Sidebottom shattered New Zealand’s run charge and ignited an England fightback on day four of the first cricket Test on Saturday. New Zealand, who had been in control and rapidly building a challenging target, lost five wickets in 29 balls to be left struggling at 147-8 in their second innings.
England slipped to 87-2 in reply to New Zealand’s 470 all out at the close of play on the second day of the first Test on Thursday. Michael Vaughan was 44 not out with Andrew Strauss on one after Chris Martin took two late wickets. England were 383 runs behind on the first innings.
The prized wicket of New Zealand’s big-hitting Brendon McCullum just before stumps gave England a slight edge on the opening day of the first cricket Test on Wednesday. New Zealand ended the day at 282-6 after an 86-run partnership between McCullum and Ross Taylor had lifted them out of a middle-order hole.
No image available
/ 20 February 2008
New Zealand and England played out a thrilling draw in their fourth one-day international (ODI) at Napier on Wednesday. Both teams finished on 340 runs, leaving New Zealand with a 2-1 lead in the series with one match to play. England batted first and made 340-6 with four players scoring half-centuries.
No image available
/ 9 February 2008
In a stunning reversal of form, New Zealand thrashed England in their opening one-day cricket international by six wickets with 20 overs to spare at Westpac Stadium in Wellington on Saturday. The win came just days after England thoroughly outplayed New Zealand in all departments in two Twenty20 matches.
No image available
/ 7 February 2008
England beat New Zealand by 50 runs in Christchurch on Thursday to complete a 2-0 series sweep of their two Twenty20 internationals. England followed up their 32-run win in Auckland on Tuesday with an even more emphatic victory to continue their perfect start to the two-month tour.
No image available
/ 31 December 2007
Daniel Vettori and Brendon McCullum put in record performances as New Zealand thrashed Bangladesh by 10 wickets with 44 overs to spare in a one-day international on Monday. Bangladesh were all out for 93 in the 38th over, with Vettori returning a magnificent 5-7.
No image available
/ 28 December 2007
New Zealand produced a solid all-round performance to wrap up their three-match one-day series against Bangladesh with a 102-run victory under the Duckworth-Lewis system in the second game in Napier on Friday. New Zealand had scored 335-5 in their 50 overs, with Peter Fulton top-scoring with 83, before rain forced the players from the field.
No image available
/ 19 December 2007
Australia’s bowlers backed up captain Ricky Ponting’s second successive one-day international century to lead their side to a 114-run win and series victory against New Zealand in Hobart on Thursday. Ponting, who made 107 not out in Australia’s seven-wicket victory in the first game in Adelaide, struck an unbeaten 134.
No image available
/ 1 December 2007
Brendon McCullum and Jamie How pounded the South African bowlers as New Zealand ended a losing streak with an emphatic seven-wicket victory in the second one-day international at St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth on Friday. McCullum (81) and How (76) put on 154 for the second wicket as New Zealand cruised in with 11.2 overs to spare to level the three-match series.
No image available
/ 25 November 2007
South Africa celebrated Graeme Smith’s 100th one-day international as captain by squeaking home by two wickets in the first MTN one-day international at Kingsmead on Sunday, with Andre Nel snatching the winning run off the last ball of the match. Man-of-the-match AB de Villiers made 91 for South Africa.
No image available
/ 12 November 2007
South African captain Graeme Smith laid into the state of the country’s pitches after his team surged to a record win over New Zealand in the first Test on Sunday. South Africa won by 358 runs after lunch on the fourth day to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
No image available
/ 23 October 2007
New Zealand on Tuesday recalled all-rounder James Franklin and named wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins as a batsman in a new-look one-day squad for next month’s trip to South Africa. Opener Jamie How was also recalled for the first time since early 2006 in the 14-man squad as New Zealand rebuild after a series of retirements.