England peg back New Zealand

LONDON: James Anderson and Steven Finn did the bulk of the damage as England turned the first Test against New Zealand at Lord's into a one innings shoot-out Saturday.

England dismissed New Zealand for 207 before lunch on the third day, a
modest first innings lead of 25 runs.

At lunch, England were 12 without loss in their second innings -- a lead of 37 -- after captain Alastair Cook, then on nought, had survived an appeal for caught behind off Trent Boult that third umpire Marais Erasmus studied for several minutes following a New Zealand review.

Cook was five not out and Nick Compton seven not out, with England looking to improve on their first innings 232 in this opening match of a two-Test series.

Earlier Anderson, who on Friday had become only the fourth England bowler to take 300 Test wickets, finished with five wickets for 47 runs in 24 overs.

It was the 30-year-old Lancashire swing bowler's 13th five-wicket or better innings return in an 81 Test-career that started at Lord's a decade ago.

Having taken three wickets on Friday, including that of New Zealand top
scorer Ross Taylor (66), Anderson returned Saturday figures of two for 15 in nine overs.

He was well supported by fast bowler Steven Finn, whose four for 63 on his Middlesex home ground, featured Saturday figures of three for 21 in four overs.

However, it was the previously wayward Stuart Broad who made the early
breakthrough Saturday after New Zealand resumed on 153 for four.

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum, a dangerous batsman, fell for two
when he edged Broad to wicket-keeper Matt Prior.

Kane Williamson, dropped on 23 by Prior off Anderson on Friday and 44 not out overnight, marked his first Test in England with a 158-ball fifty featuring five fours.

However, there was no second reprieve for Williamson when he glanced a rare stray delivery from Anderson down the legside to Prior for 60.

Tim Southee, who on his Test debut thrashed a rapid 77 against England at Napier five years ago, struck three fours off successive balls from Finn before the Middlesex quick had him hole out for 12.

Anderson knocked back Bruce Martin's off-stump for nought before Finn
wrapped up the innings with the wickets of BJ Watling and Boult. (AFP)