Skip to Content. Skip to Navigation.
 
Cricket

New Zealand bowlers rock England

New Zealand bowlers rock England
Photograph Copyright : Getty Images

New Zealand are firmly in control of the first Test against England after skittling the tourists for just 167 on day two in Dunedin.

After no play was possible on the first day due to inclement weather, the Kiwis made up for lost time with a terrific bowling performance on Thursday.

Left-armer Neil Wagner (4-42 off 11 overs) and spinner Bruce Martin (4-43 off 14) have played just three Tests between them but made a mockery of England's much-vaunted batting line-up at University Oval.

And in response, openers Hamish Rutherford (77 not out) and Peter Fulton (46 not out) played excellently as New Zealand finished at 0-131 at stumps.

Quicks Tim Southee (1-45 off 15) and Trent Boult (1-32 off 15) shared the new ball for the Kiwis and the former enjoyed some early success when he sent England opener Nick Compton packing for a duck in the third over.

Compton was bowled after playing onto his stumps and the introduction of Wagner into the attack in the 11th over paid immediate dividends.

After being dropped in the previous over by Martin at mid-wicket, Alastair Cook (10) failed to make the most of his reprieve when he hit straight to Rutherford at point.

It was just Wagner's second delivery and he added to his account from the very next ball, trapping danger man Kevin Pietersen (zero) lbw with a superb in-swinging delivery.

There were no doubts over the decision and at 3-18, England were looking very shaky.

Jonathan Trott (45) and Ian Bell (24) stemmed the flow of wickets with a 46-run partnership until the latter picked out Rutherford in the covers to give Wagner his third wicket.

Joe Root (four) starred in the shorter forms of the game in New Zealand earlier this year but the highly-rated Yorkshireman came and went cheaply, caught at third slip by Dean Brownlie off the bowling of Boult.

Martin got in on the act shortly after, claiming the key scalps of wicket-keeper Matthew Prior (23), Trott and Stuart Broad (10) in quick succession.

Steven Finn (20) and James Anderson (23) put up some resistance with a 47-run partnership for the ninth wicket but they eventually fell to Wagner and Martin respectively as England's poor effort with the bat saw them bowled out in just 55 overs.

New Zealand would face a real acid test in the afternoon as the likes of Anderson (0-35 off nine), Finn (0-35 off 12) and Broad (0-23 off 10) all bent their backs, but it was a challenge they passed with flying colours.

The Kiwis showed there were no real demons in the wicket and Rutherford entertained the crowd with 10 fours and one six on his Test debut.

Fulton was a real rock at the other end and finished with 46 from 140 deliveries, including seven fours.

New Zealand now trail by just 36 runs and with 10 wickets in hand, they will be looking to build a big lead when play resumes on day three.

Would you like to comment?

 

You might also like

Warner fined for Twitter rant
05/22/2013 10:56:08 AM
 
Waugh takes aim at immature Warner
05/20/2013 02:04:39 AM
 
Broad best as England thrash NZ
05/20/2013 12:08:03 AM
 
Late New Zealand rally rocks England
05/19/2013 01:12:10 AM
 
Anderson takes 300th Test wicket
05/17/2013 11:06:11 PM
 
England struggle at rain-hit Lord's
05/16/2013 09:51:20 PM
 
 
 
 

Trending stories

The Lurker - NRL Rumour File - Wednesday
05/22/2013 03:35:26 AM
-
League
 
Sheedy pens fan letter to NicNat
05/22/2013 01:58:30 AM
-
AFL
 
NRL launch Te'o investigation
05/22/2013 07:04:29 AM
-
League
 
Best 22 of knee injury victims
05/22/2013 04:35:55 AM
-
AFL
 
Clarke: Warner still captain material
05/22/2013 04:50:55 AM
-
Cricket
 
For the Socceroos, Langerak needs to move
05/22/2013 07:58:41 AM
-
Football