England hurry to innings win

Ryan Sidebottom enjoys the wicket of Daniel Vettori en route to fine figures of 6-67

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Ryan Sidebottom reproduced James Anderson’s heroics of the first innings as England stormed to a comprehensive victory over New Zealand in the final npower Test.

The hosts triumphed by an innings and nine runs barely an hour into the fourth morning at Trent Bridge, wrapping up a 2-0 series win that reflected the gulf between these sides over the past month.

The tourists, forced to follow on yesterday, resumed their second innings this morning on 177 for five, requiring a further 64 to make England bat again.

But Sidebottom’s devastating spell of 4-12 decimated the middle and lower order - he finished with outstanding figures of 6-67 as the increasingly brow-beaten Black Caps were bowled out for just 232 despite Jacob Oram’s rapid unbeaten half-century.

It was fitting that James Anderson, whose seven-wicket haul in the first innings was central to the outcome of this hugely one-side Test, sealed victory by removing Chris Martin to spark wild celebrations on the pitch and in the packed stands.

However, the manner in which Sidebottom bowled this morning was nothing short of immaculate, the wickets of Gareth Hopkins, Daniel Vettori, Kyle Mills and Iain O’Brien in the space of 19 balls due reward for maintenance of a fuller length and an ability to extract movement through the air despite the bare minimum of cloud cover.

Hopkins had added just five to his overnight score of seven when he edged a delivery that was slanted across him to wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose.

James Anderson sets the seal on a series win by removing number 11 Chris Martin shortly after noon

Oram, who had signalled his intent with two fours in an over off Stuart Broad earlier in the day, pulled the same bowler over midwicket for six before Daniel Vettori drove half-heartedly at an outswinger and provided Kevin Pietersen with a straightforward catch at gully.

Though Broad was cut for four and driven on the up powerfully through cover off successive deliveries, Sidebottom continued on his merry way, removing Mills and O’Brien in the same over courtesy of regulation edges to first and second slip respectively.

Anderson was launched into the stand at long-on by Oram, who went to an entertaining 39-ball fifty that served as a warning to England ahead of the forthcoming one-day series.

But Chris Martin, as has been the case all series, did not inconvenience England too long, edging the second ball he faced to a diving Paul Collingwood at second slip.

England’s catching was faultless, epitomising a ruthless performance that set the seal on a series in which they have improved almost steadily throughout.

Anderson and Sidebottom were responsible for 16 of the New Zealand wickets to fall in the game, and as the England players embraced shortly after noon under a beating sun, one could not help thinking that the future for England looks decidedly bright.