Sidebottom leads England fightback

Left-armer Sidebottom struck twice shortly before lunch and new-ball partner James Anderson inflicted further damage on the New Zealanders' first innings at Old Trafford in the afternoon session.

England player of the year Sidebottom removed Aaron Redmond and James Marshall in consecutive overs after switching to the Stretford end to help restrict the tourists to 202 for four after the first day.

In addition to that score, New Zealand had one of their players retire hurt for the second time in as many innings after Daniel Flynn was struck in the face by a James Anderson bouncer.

Anderson followed an average first spell of the match with some hostility from the Warwick Road end, and stocky left-hander Flynn lost a tooth for his troubles.

Later in the same over, another of the Kiwi southpaws Jacob Oram, their Lord's centurion, was struck on the helmet by another short one.

Anderson gave England a third success shortly after the interval when Jamie How, who hit 64 from 110 balls, nicked a delivery which shaped away.

That brought Brendon McCullum, forced to retire hurt in the second innings of the drawn opening match of the series, to the middle.

He announced himself with a cut for four and smashed six off Monty Panesar from consecutive deliveries, but perished in the same over when a sharp turner found the edge of the bat, brushed wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose's gloves and was held at slip by Paul Collingwood.

Just 16 minutes play were possible in light rain after tea before the umpires offered bad light to the batsmen. Ross Taylor and Oram accepted the chance to return to the dressing room and the light was never to return.