Swann spins England toward victory

LEEDS: New Zealand again found Graeme Swann a difficult conundrum as the off-spinner bowled England toward another convincing victory in the second and final Test yesterday.

Swann confirmed he was back to his best after elbow surgery by adding four wickets to his quartet from the first innings and leave the tourists hoping for forecast rain to arrive and save them on the final day today.

Set an improbable 468 to win at Headingley, New Zealand limped to 158 for six at the close with Ross Taylor’s determined 70 glueing together another fragile innings.

Taylor and Dean Brownlie (25) had shared a fourth-wicket stand of 79 to hold up England who are certain to seal series triumph after their first-Test victory at Lord’s.

Taylor survived two reviewed appeals but became Swann’s fourth victim when he was beaten for flight, misjudged a drive and was bowled.

Dismissed for 174 in their first innings, hot on the heels of their capitulation at Lord’s when they were skittled for 68, New Zealand again looked ill at ease at the crease.

Stuart Broad, the instigator of New Zealand’s first Test downfall with seven second-innings wickets, removed Peter Fulton for five with a ball that bounced sharply from a good length to catch the shoulder of the opener’s bat and give Ian Bell a simple catch at gully.

Broad struck Kane Williamson a painful blow on the arm before Swann was introduced into the attack and trapped New Zealand’s number three leg before for the second time in the match. The decision was upheld after a review.