Sidebottom shrugs off struggles

Deservedly voted the Vodafone Player of the Year earlier this week, it was perhaps inevitable the Nottinghamshire left-arm seamer would fail to maintain such high standards on the opening day of the npower series.

During a second day disrupted with five interruptions for bad light, which restricted play to just 55.4 overs, the importance of Sidebottom's revival was underlined by openers Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss setting a nice platform for an England lead by guiding them to 68 without loss.

Having batted through the difficult, swing-friendly conditions on the previous day the tourists set out to win a battle of attrition with an England attack determined to make a breakthrough by bowling disciplined lines and lengths.

It did not make for particularly entertaining viewing, especially in an age of high-tempo Twenty20 cricket, with the tourists plundering just 14 runs in the opening 10 overs and it took Sidebottom to break the stalemate and end Jacob Oram's defiant innings.

All-rounder Oram had battled for over two hours for his 28 providing excellent support to Brendon McCullum the previous evening and captain Daniel Vettori for 43 frustrating minutes in gloomy conditions at the start of play.

He was finally defeated by a full-length Sidebottom delivery which seamed away enough to gain the edge and allow it to carry to Andrew Strauss at first slip.

With conditions still favouring the bowler, England would have fancied their chances of finishing off the innings swiftly but instead were denied for another hour until the second new ball was taken.

Sidebottom struck almost immediately with his second delivery swinging in and knocking back Kyle Mills' off-stump while Tim Southee fell in identical fashion facing Sidebottom's first ball after a restart for bad light early in the afternoon session.

While Sidebottom was wreaking havoc at the other end, New Zealand could at least console themselves with the determination and temperament being displayed by Vettori, who averaged 46 in the recent series against England batting at number eight.