Sidebottom strikes as England work hard for wickets

12:58pm Friday 16th May 2008

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RYAN Sidebottom claimed the first breakthrough as England were made to wait for wickets by a stubborn New Zealand at Lords.

After going wicketless for the majority of the opening hour of the second morning, left-armer Sidebottom turned Jacob Oram around to send the ball to first slip.

Andrew Strauss juggled the catch before clutching the ball under his chin to complete a well-planned dismissal.

Sidebottom and James Anderson forced Oram on to the back foot with some short stuff and the giant left-hander was static on the crease as he attempted to turn to leg.

There was just one other scare as the Black Caps, resuming on 208 for six in the first npower Test, added only two dozen runs for the loss of one wicket.

It came in the third over when Daniel Vettori drove to mid-on off Sidebottom, where Stuart Broad produced a half-stop.

His diving effort deflected the ball to Michael Vaughan at mid-off, by which time Vettori was stood halfway down the pitch urging seventh-wicket partner Oram to run - but he scampered through to get home as Vaughan threw to wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose.