England is in strong position by restricting New Zealand on 242/6 at the stumps of fourth day of the second and final test at Basin Reserve, Wellington. England need 4 wickets to level the series and New Zealand require another 196 runs to win the series 2-0 on the final day of the match.
England inched closer to a series-levelling victory on a blustery fourth day in Wellington, reducing New Zealand to 242 for 6 at stumps, but they didn't help their cause in spilling at least five chances. Brendon McCullum and Jacob Oram counterattacked with an aggressive sixth-wicket stand of 69 before Ryan Sidebottom removed Oram with the new ball shortly before the close.
Fielding aside, it was a fine performance by England's bowlers - led, of course, by Sidebottom whose stature grows with every match. He ought to have had five wickets to his name by the close, not 3 for 72, but continues to be Michael Vaughan's go-to bowler. Supporting him was Stuart Broad, the coltish young bowler drafted in with James Anderson to replace Steve Harmison and Matthew Hoggard. Broad improved upon an encouraging (if mousey) display in the first innings to produce fine figures of 2 for 38 from 16 tight, fast overs - though he was officially warned by Rudi Koertzen for stepping onto the pitch, a problem which afflicted him in his debut Test against Sri Lanka last year too.
New Zealand's last recognized pair Brandun McCullum and capatain Daniel Vittori are in the middle on 43 and 0 respectively.
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