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England vs New Zealand, 2nd Test at Manchester, , May 23 2008 - Ball by Ball Commentary

RESULT
2nd Test, Manchester, May 23 - 26, 2008, New Zealand tour of England and Scotland
381 & 114
(T:294) 202 & 294/4

England won by 6 wickets

Player Of The Match
1/101 & 6/37
monty-panesar
New
ENG 2nd Innings
Full commentary
end of over 8811 runs
ENG: 294/4CRR: 3.34 
Paul Collingwood24 (56b 2x4)
Ian Bell21 (42b 4x4)
Jacob Oram 13-1-36-0
Daniel Vettori 35-7-111-1

That's a memorable win for England. The highest successful run-chase in Old Trafford. England looked dead and buried when they conceded a big first-innings lead but Panesar began the fightback before Strauss led the run-chase with immense composure.

New Zealand had their chances but didn't cash in. What were the odds of Daniel Vettori ending wicketless today? But that's exactly what's happened. England chose to use the heavy roller and that might have played a big part in the surface slowing up. Not much turn and bounce for Vettori and whatever there was it was only slow and predictable.

England lead 1-0 in a match they were behind for most part. New Zealand will also blame their muffs on the field and the missed chances. They will have plenty to do at Nottingham, where they will hope to level the series.

Darrell Hair and Simon Taufel are applauded by the crowd for their efforts.

Daniel Vettori now, he's asked should they have won and he agrees but adds: "All things that go towards not winning the game - we lost out on Daniel Flynn in both innings and a couple of silly run-outs... these things contribute. England knew the conditions pretty well and unfortunately we couldn't get the breakthroughs we needed."

Is it time to reflect on what went wrong? "We still have an opportunity to draw this series. Games you should win hurt a lot more."

Here's Michael Vaughan, with stirring cheers and appreciative whistles from the crowd. "The pitch allows both teams to play that kind of cricket. We looked dead and buried but thanks to an unbelievable spell by Monty... Only losing one wicket [this morning] was a confidence boost. To win by six wickets on that pitch is a very special victory. To come back and show the character and resilience a team needs to show is very good.

Michael Atherton wants to know if he is going to implore the ECB to bring back Tests to Old Trafford sharpish. Vaughan bats away the question, diplomatically. "We do enjoy playing at Old Trafford. The four days we've had something different every day."

Monty Panesar is named Man of the Match. "With the assistance we were getting off the pitch, I knew there was a responsibility and luckily I got some wickets. I really enjoy bowling at Old Trafford and the wicket does help me."

Hope you enjoyed our coverage. From me Siddhartha Vaidyanathan, it's good night and good luck.

87.6
1
Oram to PD Collingwood, 1 run

and that's the win, down the leg side and he's tickled that past the keeper through fine leg, Collingwood and Bell raise their arms aloft and celebrate what will go down as a famous wni

87.5
4
Oram to PD Collingwood, FOUR runs

and he's tied that, short one and he'll pulled that hard, not totally in control but it races past the two short midwickets for four, 1 needed off 1

87.4
1
Oram to Bell, 1 run

full and outside off, pushed to covers, slightly slower, pushed to cover

87.3
1
Oram to PD Collingwood, 1 run

full and swinging, dances down the track, beaten but gets an inside edge onto the pads and towards square leg

87.2
4
Oram to PD Collingwood, FOUR runs

and he's got that through midwicket, rooted to the crease and whips it hard through the midwicket gap, races away. 7 needed off 4 now (for tea to taste that much better)

87.1
Oram to PD Collingwood, no run

full and outside off, pushed back down the ground

end of over 87Maiden
ENG: 283/4CRR: 3.25 
Ian Bell20 (41b 4x4)
Paul Collingwood14 (51b)
Daniel Vettori 35-7-111-1
Jacob Oram 12-1-25-0
86.6
Vettori to Bell, no run

slightly short of a length, turning sharp, he's squared up but gets his bat behind it

Christopher: "As in 5th test Eng v WI 1990 when Ramprakash was LBW to the first ball after tea could have been taken and Botham pulled the next ball to long leg to win the match."

86.5
Vettori to Bell, no run

fuller, defended to the off side

86.4
Vettori to Bell, no run

dances down the track, tapped to the off side

86.3
Vettori to Bell, no run

defended to the off side, bat close to the pad

86.2
Vettori to Bell, no run

cut off the back foot to cover

86.1
Vettori to Bell, no run

yorker-length ball, dug it out towards slips, all along the ground

end of over 861 run
ENG: 283/4CRR: 3.29 
Paul Collingwood14 (51b)
Ian Bell20 (35b 4x4)
Jacob Oram 12-1-25-0
Daniel Vettori 34-6-111-1
85.6
Oram to PD Collingwood, no run

full outside off, shovels towards mid-on, thickish inside edge

85.5
Oram to PD Collingwood, no run

pushed back to the bowler

85.4
Oram to PD Collingwood, no run

shuffles across and taps to the on side, the wind continues to blow heavily

85.3
Oram to PD Collingwood, no run

walks across and driven confidently to the off side

85.2
Oram to PD Collingwood, no run

short of a length, tapped to the off side, high on the bat

85.1
1
Oram to Bell, 1 run

slightly short, too slow off the pitch again, pulled away watchfully behind square

Apparently tea can't be delayed.

end of over 853 runs
ENG: 282/4CRR: 3.31 
Paul Collingwood14 (46b)
Ian Bell19 (34b 4x4)
Daniel Vettori 34-6-111-1
Jacob Oram 11-1-24-0
84.6
Vettori to PD Collingwood, no run

flighted on off, angling in, pushed to the on side

84.5
Vettori to PD Collingwood, no run

pushed to silly point