England close in on series sweep

New Zealand’s batting woes continued as they lost three wickets in beginning the long haul of trying to save the second and final Test against England on Monday.

England, who won the first Test at Lord’s by 170 runs, set the tourists a target of 468 for an unlikely victory after Alastair Cook declared half an hour after lunch on the fourth day at Headingley.

New Zealand, with four sessions remaining of the match, limped into tea at 68 for three after off-spinner Graeme Swann struck twice.

Dismissed for 174 in their first innings, hot on the heels of their capitulation at Lord’s when they were skittled for 68, the tourists looked ill at ease on a wicket offering bounce and turn.

Stuart Broad, the instigator of New Zealand’s first Test downfall with seven second-innings wickets, removed Peter Fulton for five with a ball that bounced sharply from a good length to catch the shoulder of the opener’s bat and give Ian Bell a simple catch at gully.

Broad struck Kane Williamson a painful blow on the arm before Swann was introduced into the attack and trapped New Zealand’s number three leg before for the second time in the match, the decision upheld after a review.

Swann was celebrating again just before tea when Hamish Rutherford, who had batted with determination for his 42, got an inside edge on to his pad and was snaffled by Joe Root at short leg.

Earlier, Cook completed his 25th Test century before falling for 130 and Jonathan Trott hit 76.

The hosts added 122 to their overnight total in the morning session and batted for a shade over 30 minutes after lunch before declaring on 287 for five.

Trott, from the second ball after the interval, and Root perished to attacking strokes and Jonny Bairstow hit some lusty blows before Cook called a halt.

Cook, who declined to make New Zealand follow-on on Sunday after they were dismissed for 174, was again untroubled until he danced down the wicket and miscued spinner Williamson to Tim Southee at mid-off.

At lunch on the fourth day, England were 249 for three, a lead of 429, and set to secure a series victory.

Trott was unbeaten on 76 after sharing a second-wicket stand of 134 with Cook.
In contrast to his stubborn and defensive occupation of the crease on Sunday, Trott was in a more attacking mood and produced some deft flicks on both sides of the wicket.

ENGLAND (I Innings): 354 all out
NEW ZEALAND (I Innings): 174 all out
ENGLAND (II Innings, O/n: 116/1):
Cook c Southee b Williamson    130
Compton c R’ford b Williamson    7
Trott c McCullum b Wagner    76
Bell c Guptill b Williamson    6
Root c Guptill b Wagner    28
Bairstow (not out)    26
Prior (not out)    4
Extras (B-8, LB-1, W-1)    10
Total (for 5 wkts decl, 76 overs)    287
Fall of wickets: 1-72, 2-206, 3-214, 4-249, 5-268.
Bowling: Boult 2-1-2-0, Southee 15-4-51-0, Wagner 17-3-67-2, Williamson 24-4-68-3, Bracewell 13-3-49-0, Guptill 5-0-41-0.
NEW ZEALAND (II Innings):
Fulton c Bell b Broad    5
Rutherford c Root b Swann    42
Williamson lbw Swann    3
Taylor (batting)    9
Brownlie (batting)    3
Extras (LB-6)    6
Total (for 3 wkts, 22 overs)    68
Fall of wickets: 1-21, 2-40, 3-65.
Bowling: James Anderson 6-4-7-0, Stuart Broad 6-1-18-1, Graeme Swann 5-0-17-2, Steven Finn 5-1-20-0.