Jacob cracker puts the demons to rest - Oram hits Kiwi century to force draw with England

New Zealand 277 & 269-6; England 319

Jacob Oram could not have chosen a better bowler to strike for three crisp fours in an over to reach his first Test century against England and allay any remote fears New Zealand had of losing this first Test.

The match was not only saved but also the demons which have confronted Oram when batting against Ryan Sidebottom had been exorcised.

Oram was brutally honest after the first innings here when talking about how he has barely been able to lay a bat on Sidebottom, let alone prosper against him in the manner New Zealand need from their pivotal all-rounder. 

Jacob Oram hits past an England fielder on his way to 101 on the final day at Lord's, taking the acclaim (below)

Yet, in defying and then dominating England's player of the year yesterday with the Test in the balance, Oram struck a significant blow for his own peace of mind and his country's hopes of competing in this three-match npower series.

When Sidebottom swung a beauty past Oram's defence to clip the top of off stump, just after he had reached three figures, he was able to celebrate his eighth dismissal of the "New Zealand Flintoff" since these teams locked horns in February.

This one, however, was different and Sidebottom knew it. This was the first time Oram had been the victor in their tussles, a fact that was acknowledged by Sidebottom when he walked up to Oram and quietly muttered "well played" as he left the field, the respect between the protagonists mutual.

By then the match was destined to be a draw, the fifth Lord's Test in succession to end that way, but that had been far from certain when Oram walked to the crease with New Zealand four down, just 73 ahead, and with Brendon McCullum next door in the Wellington Hospital having an X-ray after being struck on the forearm by Stuart Broad.

England would surely have gone on to win had Sidebottom dismissed Oram cheaply, as has become his wont, but Oram displayed immense character in partnership with adhesive debutant Daniel Flynn before progressing to his first score in excess of 50 in the second innings of any Test.

Then he unfurled the powerful hitting which attracted the Indian Premier League paymasters to complete his fifth Test century.

Such was the confidence which flowed back through Oram that he struck 15 fours and two sixes - a slog sweep off Monty Panesar and a straight blow into the pavilion off Kevin Pietersen - and guided New Zealand to a lead of 227 with four wickets in hand by the close, an intriguing situation ruined by the weather of the first three days.

Just as significantly, McCullum returned, this time wearing an armguard, with his arm bruised but not broken to climb back into the saddle after Oram's dismissal and emphasise that New Zealand are refusing to lie down in this series.

No laughing matter: England slip fielder Andrew Strauss drops a chance to dismiss Jamie How off the bowling of Stuart Broad

McCullum's evident annoyance when he got the thinnest of edges to a Jimmy Anderson outswinger just before the close, leaving Flynn unbeaten on 29 from 118 balls, spoke volumes.

New Zealand will surely be happier as the teams head today to Old Trafford for the second Test on Friday. Even though England captain Michael Vaughan expressed himself satisfied with the way his side bowled he accepted that they had their chances to force victory on the final day.

Not only did Andrew Strauss drop a straightforward slip chance to hand Jamie How a reprieve 46 runs into his innings of 68 but also England were sluggish in the field and lacked a cutting edge with the ball.

Vaughan, Panesar and, less predictably, Anderson all could have executed run outs if they had not fumbled and Richard Halsall, the new England fielding coach, has much to do if he is to convert his imaginative sessions into the sustained fielding excellence England showed in Hamilton in March despite losing the first Test.

Much as Vaughan's post-match declaration of his desire for continuity and an unchanged bowling line-up is commendable, there must be a huge temptation to throw Chris Tremlett, named as a replacement in the squad for the injured Matthew Hoggard, into the fray.

New Zealand looked susceptible to Tremlett's bounce when facing the England Lions before this Test and the gentle Hampshire giant could be just the man to take advantage of Old Trafford's hard and fast surface.

Between now and Friday, England will have to accept that they did not bowl nearly as well as they should have done here, nor showed the ruthlessness that will be required when South Africa, India and Australia come calling.

New Zealand, not for the first time, scrapped their way to a better position than was expected and are very much alive going into the second Test.

England clearly must do better.