Tea New Zealand 254 and 153 for 2 (Williamson 51*, Taylor 36*) trail England 465 by 58 runs
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Cyclone Sandra wiped out the afternoon session at Basin Reserve to
undermine England's attempts to force a victory in the second Test. Even
before the rain made its long-heralded arrival over lunch, the going
was tough for England as New Zealand batted resiliently on a surface
showing little sign of deterioration to whittle down a first-innings
deficit of 211 to 58.
Chief whittler was Kane Williamson, a circumspect half-century secured
shortly by the interval when he pulled Joe Root securely through square
leg - 51 not out from 158 balls. If Williamson was a boy scout, his
whittling would be of such a high standard it would be enough to make
him patrol leader, although not necessarily make him the chief
attraction at the village show.
He played diligently and with sound technique, particularly against the
quick bowlers, and if he was unsettled at times by Monty Panesar's
left-arm spin, Panesar never managed to get on top of him for long. He
looks mature beyond his 22 years and looks set to serve New Zealand with
distinction for many years.
Williamson's third-wicket stand with Ross Taylor was worth 72 by lunch,
with Taylor displaying flashes of attacking intent. It was clear for
England that there would be no easy pickings against a side which has
played with resolve throughout the series. At times Panesar seemed at
odds with himself, or the field he had to bowl to, or the weather. Dr
Panesar, as he jokes he wishes to be known these days since taking some
business exams earlier in the tour, needed a spot of self-diagnosis.
England's only wicket in the session was that of Peter Fulton, whose
obdurate innings ended with a push away from his body against James
Anderson and a straightforward wicketkeeper's catch for Matt Prior.
It was touch and go whether Anderson had overstepped, but after several
replays the third umpire, Paul Reiffel, ruled in the bowler's favour. He
had stayed behind the line by little more than a bit of stray ankle
strapping.
Anderson was variously troubled by an ankle battered by footholds that
were entirely to his taste and a back made stiff by the Wellington
breeze. If he came back to Basin Reserve on a really windy day, he would
get an inclination about what it would feel like to be 90 years of age.
Nobody would have predicted with certainty that he would get through
the day unscathed but he reached lunch in reasonable order.
The aches and strains of a fast bowler's lot was enough to put him in
one of his complex moods, revealed by a put-upon smile that forever
seems likely to be his last. He was never more put upon than when Kevin
Pietersen misfielded badly at mid-on to allow Taylor, who was on a pair,
to get a single off the mark, the pressure released in an instant.
An unbroken morning session had seemed unlikely before play began. Rain
was forecast, imminent rain, and the groundstaff were not overly
enthusiastic about taking the covers off. But Cyclone Sandra was a
playful adversary and, although rumoured to be in the vicinity,
delivered nothing more than a sprinkle or two in the first few overs
before taking her sport elsewhere until more extensive rain arrived at
the interval. Wellington, with little more than a fortnight's water left
after one of its driest summers on record, will be grateful for that.
New Zealand began 134 runs in arrears with eight wickets remaining. The
pitch was still sound, the weather unsettled. England needed the ball to
turn for Panesar - and not merely out of the rough. He came into the
attack after eight overs and his first two deliveries did just that,
bringing hope that Panesar could progress from a good containing job to
potential matchwinner. He threatened sporadically all morning, the tail
of his patka catching the wind like a built-in weather vane, but no
wickets were forthcoming. He must have felt he was due a change of
fortune.
David Hopps is the UK editor of ESPNcricinfo
Feeds: David Hopps
© ESPN EMEA Ltd.
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