Story England's Road to Glory: v India - 1st Test: Gallant India Turned Over by Rampant Lions

[shefellover93]

Rain Destroys Second Day At Lord's

The morning was an evenly fought session which New Zealand shaded in the end. England started badly, Stephen Harmison caught by Hamish Marshall trying to hit over the top, Kyle Mills was the bowler.

Monty Panesar came in and it was clear that Michael Vaughan wasn’t going to declare, Ryan Sidebottom ended the England innings when he was run out in typical lower order fashion on 77, the big man making his first test half-century and it took New Zealand 88 balls to finally send him back to the pavilion.
England finishing the first innings 500 all out.

Umbrellas were going up as light drizzle started around Lord's


That started the New Zealand innings and it didn’t start well for the Kiwi’s, they lost Lou Vincent in the second over when he edged a catch to Alistair Cook, Cook taking a fine catch above his shoulder at third slip.

Matthew Hoggard used the conditions to his advantage when he had Lou Vincent caught at slip by Alistair Cook


But from then on New Zealand didn’t falter, and the partnership between How and Marshall went past the 50 mark in the 17th over, England tried everything against the pair, bringing on Panesar and Sidebottom to add a little variation, but the pair did very well, playing sensibly and skilfully that put New Zealand 63-1 at the end of the morning session.

Rain clouds hat were threatening earlier in the day came over Lord’s and heavy showers meant that that day’s play had to be called

Scorecards

 

[surendar]

This might end in draw.. considering from England tailender's batting, this pitch should be a batting beauty.. Lets see..

Very neat and classic presentation with storyline! :onpc

 

[shefellover93]

Vicious Lions Make Pulp Out Of Rotten Kiwi's

Day 3 started brilliantly for England, when Vaughan brought on Panesar, he wasted no time in taking his first wicket. It took Panesar 4 balls to break the 2nd wicket partnership, bowling Hamish Marshall for 24. Craig McMillan came and went without scoring off 5 balls, Pietersen with the good diving catch off Panesar.

Jamie How kept going though, he reached his half-century in the 26th over off a big six. The New Plymouthman making his milestone in 82 balls. McCullum and How were making good progress when Stephen Harmison bowled a beauty in the corridor, How tried to drive off the back foot but succeeded only in nicking an edge for Tim Ambrose to smartly catch. How going for 53 in 93 balls.

The wicket signalled a middle order collapse, when first Ross Taylor, and then Jacob Oram went in the following two overs, both bowled. Taylor by Panesar and Oram by Harmison. Daniel Vettori came in and wasn’t looking comfortable, he edged a catch to Ramprakash in the 35th over, but the Surreyman couldn’t hold on. Next ball the Kiwi captain was gone though, clean bowled by Panesar.

Vettori looked shakey while at the crease


Daryl Tuffey came in and with Brendon McCullum was looking good, but he spooned another catch to Pietersen, Panesar getting his 3rd wicket of the innings. New Zealand couldn’t finish the session without losing their 8th wicket though. A massive wicket as Brendon McCullum was caught by Alistair Cook, Panesar yet again the bowler, getting his 8th test 5-for as McCullum went for 11 off 34 balls.

That ended the Morning Session, and England were sky high.

England took no time in taking the last wicket, Chris Martin chipping a catch to Ian Bell off Monty Panesar, New Zealand finish on 137, 363 runs behind England.

Ryan Sidebottom was pleased despite his poor series


Vaughan enforced the follow on and there was more drama as New Zealand lost two wickets in the 4th over. First, top scorer in the last innings Jamie How was bowled by Matthew Hoggard, and then the Yorkshireman took his second with the last ball of the over. Lou Vincent chipping straight to Panesar, and the Nottinghamshire man making no mistake. Craig McMillan came in and he looked in good nick, hitting a few fours to add some respectability to the Kiwi innings.

But on twenty he was clean bowled by Monty Panesar, it was Panesar’s 6th wicket and after 17 overs in the second session New Zealand were 31-3, England ripping shreds into their dignity.

They managed to survive the next 6 overs without losing a wicket and went into the tea break on 47-3. A massive 316 runs down on England.

The tea session was by far the most eventful of the test series. Panesar was smacked for 16 in the first over, including three consecutive boundaries, Vaughan stuck with him though and it paid off as in the 31st over he took two wickets in two balls. First Marshall was gone, missing a straight one, and then Jacob Oram came in, with Panesar acting as an off-spinner, bowled the perfect ball pitching outside the off-stump, and then spinning past Oram’s block and onto the top of his off-stump.

Another two wicket over came 5 overs later, this time Hoggard the bowler, first, a leg cutter outside off stump was chipped into the air by Ross Taylor, Stephen Harmison made no mistake at cover. Then 3 balls later Daniel Vettori lost his bails as an excellent in swinger removed the left-handers off-stump.

Then in the 40th over Brendon McCullum was making his way back to the pavilion in yet another spectacular Kiwi middle order collapse. It was Hoggard’s fifth wicket, the big man’s 8th test five-for

Daryl Tuffey was the next to go 2 overs later, Hoggard making a mess of the mans stumps, gone for only one. At this stage England only needed one wicket to secure a handsome victory. That wicket came in the 44th over. Kyle Mills and Chris Martin got themselves into a right mess and Mills was run out, Harmison making the quick gather and throw and Ambrose quick to whip off the bails.

England's quick bowlers lead the post-match celebrations

That ended the test and handed England the victory. England win by an innings and 261 runs with Monty Panesar the man of the match.

Scorecards

 

[Highlander999]

This is constantly improving and has a good chance for SOTM soon.

Keep up the hard work as it really shows Also a great win for England

 

[formula1man]

wow huge collapse again nice work mate

 

[shefellover93]

ICL Players cleared to play in ODI Series

In an announcement today, ICC president Ray Mali has announced that all New Zealand players playing in the ICL have been cleared to play in the upcomoing One Day International series against England.

This means that Shane Bond and Daryl Tuffey may play in the series, which will be a massive boost to the Kiwi's


ECB Announce Fixtures Change

Miles Clarke, the ECB chairman has announced that 1 test and 2 ODI's will be abandoned due to 'Player fatigue'

Clarke had this to say

"The ECB have canceled two One Day internationals and the final test due to player fatigue.

Players are finding playing for both county and country too taxing and want to spend some time with their families. So both test and ODI at Edgbaston will be canceled along with the ODI at Lord's. I hope all will appreciate the player's concerns and concentrate on the upcoming Twenty20 match at Old Trafford"

"We believe that if a result has been decided that the players should be able to rest up for the coming series" said Kevin Pietersen when speaking to Setanta Sports News

 

[shefellover93]

New Zealand Regain Pride in Twenty20

New Zealand played some of their best cricket of the tour to beat England in the only Twenty20 International at Old Trafford yesterday.

Daniel Vettori won the toss on a hard pitch and many were confused when he opted to bowl. England got off to a good start in the first over, gaining 9 runs without the loss of a wicket. But a 9 ball second over saw Ian Bell being bowled by inclusion James Franklin.

Bell tries again after being bowled by James Franklin


Kevin Pietersen somewhat enjoyed a small stay at the crease. First the Hampshireman smashed a six into the pavilion, and then two overs later he was trudging back to the pavilion in disbelief as Brendon McCullum took an amazing diving catch to his right replicating his catch against England to dismiss Ian Bell for a duck which you can seehere.

Kevin Pietersen smashed a six before falling to an amazing diving catch from Brendon McCullum


Phil Mustard was the next to go in the 7th over, he was caught by Franklin off the bowling of Bond trying to slog it over the cover boundary. Gone for 41 in 22 balls. There was one more wicket for Bond in his final over though. Owais Shah tried a square cut but only succeeded in nicking an edge to McCullum to take a relatively simple catch to leave England four wickets down with only 8 overs gone.

Things went from bad when another double wicket over came an over later. Paul Collingwood was bowled in the first ball of the over, gone for only 3, and then Dimitri Mascarenhas was clean bowled first ball by Franklin, his 3rd of the game. Ryan Sidebottom was the next to go in the 10th over, he nicked an edge to McCullum of the bowling of Vettori, consecutive wickets fell when Matthew Hoggard went to a golden duck, clean bowled by the Kiwi captain.

England had their innings come to a premature end when Stephen Harmison and Graeme Swann got out in thr 12th over. First Harmison was trapped lbw by Vettori, Harmison looking clearly displeased when umpire Aleem Dar raised the finger.

Vettori was having a good day

Graeme Swann was the last to go in the last ball of the over when he tried to come down the track. The Nottinghamshire man missed the ball and was stumped by McCullum to leave England all out with a measly score of only 118. New Zealand needing 5.90 runs an over.


The New Zealand innings got off to a flyer, Hoggard’s first over going for 16. But Harmison came back in the 3rd over and had Lou Vincent caught brilliantly by Owais Shah at slip, the Essexman diving low to his left to get rid of Vincent for four. Ross Taylor went in the 6th over for 5 when he nicked a catch to Mustard behind the wicket. Mathew Hoggard making up for his poor second over.

England got rid of the danger man McCullum the next over, McCullum tried to loop the ball over Ryan Sidebottom at cover and over the vacant boundary. The Dunedin man not getting enough bat though and Sidebottom didn’t have to move a muscle while taking the catch. Monty Panesar came in in the 9th over and England hit a purple patch. Panesar took the wickets of Jacob Oram (4) and Craig McMillan (Golden Duck) in his first two balls and took a double wicket maiden in his first over.

Monty was getting in on the wickets


Two more maidens followed from Mascarenhas and Panesar before the Londoner took his first international wicket of the year when he dismissed Scott Styris, Ian Bell taking the catch at silly point. Things went form good to better for the Lions as first Peter Fulton, and then James Franklin in the 13th over to leave New Zealand staring down the barrel with only two wickets left.

But Daniel Vettori and Kyle Mills produced an unexpected but heroic knock to secure victory for the Kiwi’s by two wickets after a poor batting performance

Daniel Vettori was awarded the man of the match award after taking 4 wickets and scoring 21 runs.

Scorecards

 

[shefellover93]

Why isn't anybody commenting. It's disappointing that people comment on other stories regularly and couldn't be bothered to comment on this.

 

[Highlander999]

You update too quickly

Very poor by England, although New Zealand tried to lose it Great work mate, a top class effort

 

[Cricketman]

Great stuff from England there in the test. Good comeback from the Kiwis though as Vettori bowled them close to victory.

 

[adyhorn]

KUTGW. Btw,what level are you playing on?

 

[shefellover93]

I bat on ***
I bowl on *****

 

[formula1man]

good work nice to see nzl come back

 

[jarl]

Great work mate and good win for the kiwi's to get some confidence back after the belting they received in the last test.

 

[saladguy]

Great story you have got here mate!

KUTGW!