Anderson Routs Kiwis After Ambrose Ton Lifts England

If James Anderson was a controversial choice for this match ahead of Matthew Hoggard, then he justified his inclusion by taking a five-wicket haul as New Zealand, in reply to England's 342, were shot out for 198. Bowling into a stiff breeze and swinging the ball sharply, Anderson, who only a week ago was playing for Auckland, took 5 for 73. Hoggard, who might have looked at the conditions with a rueful smile, could scarcely have bowled any better. Only Stephen Fleming (34), Ross Taylor (53), Brendon McCullum (25) and Daniel Vettori (50 not out) reached double figures.

It left England a tricky twenty minutes to negotiate, managed successfully by Michael Vaughan and Alastair Cook, increasing a first innings lead of 144 by a further four. A three-wicket opening burst from James Anderson, who controversially kept Matthew Hoggard out of the side, gave England the upper hand on the afternoon of the second day of the second Test at the Basin Reserve.

Bowling from the Members' end into a stiffening southerly breeze Anderson, called back into the side for this match, took three for 20 in a nine-over spell that left the New Zealand first innings in trouble at 31 for three. However, a recovery was under way as tea approached with Stephen Fleming and Ross Taylor taking the score on to 94-3, Fleming, the former captain becoming the first New Zealand batsman to reach 7,000 Test runs. Earlier Tim Ambrose had reached his maiden Test century in only his third innings before being caught at slip for 102, while Paul Collingwood made 65 as England were all out before lunch for 342.

It was a splendid return from Anderson, who had only recently spent a match playing for Auckland, creating some dissent in the New Zealand ranks. Swinging the ball sharply with the assistance of a perfect wind blowing from fine-leg, he bowled Matthew Bell with his fifth ball, had Jamie How caught by Andrew Strauss at first slip on the stroke of lunch, and then after the interval, had Mathew Sinclair caught at the wicket playing a hapless prod outside off stump. Neither Bell, who made a second successive nought nor Sinclair can be assured of a place in the side for the third Test.

At the other end, after a burst from Ryan Sidebottom without success, Stuart Broad, brought into the team to replace Steve Harmison, came bursting down breeze, and was able to get his pace up around the 88mph mark, distinctly and unexpectedly lively. However, the umpire had been monitoring his encroachment on to the pitch in his follow-through, something he will have to be careful of in future.

The morning was overcast with a freshening breeze when Oram was able to resume his joust with Ambrose and in yet another maiden he rushed past his outside edge twice and then for good measure, jagged one back to rap him on the thigh. There was still plenty of action in the pitch, enough for the England bowlers to know what would be expected of them.

Mills gave Collingwood just enough width to force the ball away square for his seventh boundary to move to 52 before Ambrose faced Oram again. This time he pushed tentatively at another lifter, which caught the edge and flew over the slips to the boundary. It was not the grandest of manners to reach a Test match hundred, and his response was sheepish, but the applause rang out just the same, augmented generously by the Black Caps, who recognized a gutsy performance. It had taken just under three hours, from 144 balls, pretty brisk, with 16 fours and two sixes.

The Kiwis had got excited on the first day however but now they had resolved to bowl a tighter line. It brought its dividend in the wicket of Ambrose, who with just nine further runs added to bring up 300, pushed forward to Mills and Ross Taylor at second slip took a straightforward catch. His had been an ebullient innings, and should the pitch continue to assist the seamers throughout may prove to be a match winner.

From the outset of the New Zealand innings there was swing, and Sidebottom had one strong lbw shout against How turned down. However, it was Anderson, with his fifth ball, who made the breakthrough when Bell, who had failed to score in the second innings in Hamilton, played all round a late away-swinger which took his off stump. How then edged a perfect away swinger to Strauss.

Having gone to tea at 100 for three, the New Zealand recovery was starting to look ominous for England. Taylor completed a technically sound half-century, which contained nine fours, shortly after the interval. The partnership between he and Fleming had reached 71 when Anderson took his fourth wicket, albeit it one gifted to him by Fleming, who wafted the ball gently to point. He had made 33, insufficient to keep his career average over 40 but taking him beyond 7,000 Test runs, the first New Zealand batsman to do so.

Five overs later, and Sidebottom, spurred on by the crowd, claimed the wicket of Oram, lbw, although the batsman suggested pointedly that he had got an inside edge. Television technology showed otherwise, and the match referee will want to look at the batsman's reaction. A single blow became a double when in the following over Anderson, searching for a fifth wicket, drew Taylor into a defensive stroke on off stump, moved the ball away with Ambrose taking the edge. New Zealand were deep in trouble at 113 for five and facing the prospect of following-on.

In the five and a bit overs they were together McCullum and Vettori put paid to that idea with a seventh wicket stand of 52. McCullum, intent on knocking the bowling off its length, hitting five fours in his 25 before Strauss collected a low catch at first slip to give Stuart Broad his first wicket of the match. Now the destiny of the New Zealand innings was in the hands of Vettori, who began to try and farm the strike. He was not best pleased when Mills drove Collingwood lazily to extra cover, nor enamored when Gillespie's airy drive gave Collingwood a second wicket. There was time however for him to reach another Test half century by leaning back and upper cutting Broad for six. It had taken just 42 balls.