England bowlers shred Kiwis
LEEDS: Graeme Swann took four wickets and Steven Finn three as England again exposed New Zealand’s batting frailties to threaten another rout in the second and final Test at Headingley yesterday.
One week after being skittled for 68 to lose the first Test by 170 runs at Lord’s, the tourists collapsed spectacularly again to be bowled out for 174 in replying to England’s 354 on the third day.
England opted not to enforce the follow-on and were to start their second innings with a lead of 180.
The tourists were dismissed in little over one-and-a-half sessions, their score bloated by a belligerent counter-attack from last pair Neil Wagner (27) and Trent Boult (24 not out).
Swann finished with figures of 4-42 and Finn 3-36.
After wrapping up England’s innings by taking three wickets in 24 minutes in the morning session, the tourists lost Peter Fulton (28) and Hamish Rutherford (27) before lunch after a half-century opening stand.
Finn took the first three wickets to fall. Fulton got a leading edge after a promising start and skied a simple chance back to the bowler.
Finn, inconsistent at Lord’s despite four wickets in the first innings, struck again when Rutherford, attempting one attacking shot too many, drove uppishly and was caught in the gully by Ian Bell.
With his tail up, the paceman continued his spell after lunch and caught Ross Taylor on the back foot with a ball that darted in and the batsman chopped on to his stumps to depart for six.
Swann then bowled Dean Brownlie for two with a ball that turned in his first over, the spinner snagging his first Test wicket of the English summer after being utilised for just eight overs at Lord’s.
In his next over, Martin Guptill lasted five balls on his return to the Test team as he fell in similar vein to Brownlie — bowled by Swann for one through bat and pad.
Two balls later, Kane Williamson departed lbw for 13 after a review, having been given not out.
Brendon McCullum (20) and Tim Southee (19) briefly rallied until the latter was also given out after an lbw review.
Only Stuart Broad appealed but the England bowler was convinced the ball had struck pad before bat and the third umpire agreed.
Swann then got Doug Bracewell (one) to prod to Bell at silly point, McCullum edged Broad behind to Matt Prior before James Anderson extinguished Wagner’s fireworks.
On Saturday, Joe Root’s maiden Test century, on his Yorkshire home ground, left England well-placed.
England were 337-7 at stumps on the second day after Root made 104, having come in with England on 67-3 following Friday’s first day wash-out.
Together with Yorkshire colleague Jonny Bairstow (64), Root shared a fifthwicket stand of 124. However, Boult brought New Zealand back into the match with a burst of three wickets.