Sidebottom bounces back

4:34pm Friday 16th May 2008

Ryan Sidebottom cured his opening day struggles to end New Zealand's resistance with the new ball following a determined battle in the opening Test.

The Nottinghamshire left-arm seamer, recently voted England's player of the year, had struggled to find his rhythm and finished wicketless during the opening day at Lord's as New Zealand progressed to 208 for six.

But he rediscovered the right line and length to claim four wickets for five runs in 10.1 overs on Friday as New Zealand were dismissed for 277 - by tea on the second day England had battled to 26 without loss.

The tourists had clearly decided to be as watchful as possible when they resumed and were content to leave any delivery which was not threatening their stumps.

That approach served them well for 10 overs until Sidebottom made the first breakthrough of the day to end the resistance of all-rounder Jacob Oram.

He had batted for more than two hours to reach a determined 28 when he pushed forward at a full-length delivery which seamed away and edged to Andrew Strauss at first slip.

Oram had helped add 19 in an hour at the crease with captain Daniel Vettori, who seemed to view Oram's dismissal as a signal to briefly break out of their cautious approach.

Vettori, who averaged 46 batting at number eight in the recent Test series against England, struck the first boundary of the morning session in the next over when Jimmy Anderson over-pitched and he struck a cover drive for four.

But that was a temporary moment of aggression with England turning to Stuart Broad and left-arm spinner Monty Panesar to intensify the pressure in search of a breakthrough.

Instead of building on Sidebottom's earlier success, however, Vettori combined successfully with Kyle Mills in a determined 36-run partnership spanning 18 overs.

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