England dominant at Headingley

Cricket365
May 26, 2013

England reached stumps on day three of the second Test against New Zealand holding a lead of 294 runs, sitting on 116 for one at Headingley on a day filled with wickets for both pace and spin.

England were all out for 354 within the first half hour of the day, but the Black Caps couldn't take advantage of the situation and crumbled within a session for 174 runs. Graeme Swann took four wickets, his first at the ground, while Steve Finn took three.

The evening session was short of action, but Alastair Cook kept the scoreboard ticking and was on 88 at the close, while Jonathan Trott went at an agonising pace and faced 69 balls for his 11 runs.

England started the day on 337 for seven, with Swann and Matt Prior well set. But the Black Caps made quick work of the tail, and Prior was first to fall, removed by Tim Southee for 39.

Trent Boult then bagged the final two wickets, adding to the three he took in the evening on day two. He sent Finn's off stump flying, before taking a superb return catch to get rid of James Anderson.

The Kiwis began their knock well, with England's fielders trying their hardest to shine the ball for some swing. The ball was out of shape though and had to be changed, and this helped Finn break the opening stand.

Peter Fulton and Hamish Rutherford had put on 55 together before the big man Fulton was dismissed. He couldn't cope with Finn's bounce and popped the ball high in the air for Finn himself to catch. Rutherford fell in the over before lunch, edging Finn to Ian Bell at gully.

The afternoon saw a flurry of wickets, with Swann showing his recovery from elbow surgery was truly complete. He took three wickets within his first two overs, removing Dean Brownlie, Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson.

The only bright spot for the visitors was a 10th wicket stand of 52 between Boult and Neil Wagner, which made sure their score wasn't as dismal as it appeared. Wagner was finally dismissed on the stroke of tea, bowled by Anderson.

England opener nick Compton continued to feel the pressure as England went out to bat again rather than enforcing the follow-on. He faced 45 balls but could only score seven runs, before falling to Williamson.

Cook and Trott then continued the knock, but Trott fell into a defensive mindset that was painful to watch, while Cook continued to show his class and inched towards yet another Test century.