Story England; World Beaters?

[shantanu_rooney]

Wow very good start mate ...looking forward

 

[Jit]

great start keep it up

 

[Simbazz]

Well here we are, the first ball is about to be bowled by Ryan Sidebottom, Fulton faces up.

Sidebottom goes for 4 in his first over, a creamed cover drive by Fulton! Broad then bowls a terror of a 1st over, leaking 7!

The two opening bowlers tighten it up, but the NZ opening pair are going well.

Ryan Sidebottom is well into his 9th over when Fulton tries to flay one back over Sideys head, only to be clean bowled for 23 (44). New Zealand are 58 - 1. Sidebottoms figures now read an unusual 9 - 0 - 36 - 1, thats 4RPO!

Broad only has 9 overs before James Anderson is brought into the attack, which works almost striaght away! How nicks Anderson behind for 45 (63). That was a lapse in concentration and Vaughan masterminds the wicket they needed. Now the man of the moment, Brendon McCullum walks to the crease.

McCullum almost succumbs to an LBW only to slightly get outside the line in Andersons second over. 3 balls later, Taylor misses a straight one and Anderson gets his second. Taylor goes for 14 (19) and the score is 89-3, England are well on top here.

Sidebottom completes his 11th over, and Flintoff is one next for him. Sidebottom has gone for an uncharacteristical 11 - 0 - 48 - 1. 4 runs per over!

Jimmy's 6th over sees Prior drop Ryder on 6*, will that be a costly drop?

Flintoff gets a reward for his tight bowling, and sees off the dangerman McCullum for 9 (28). Prior grasps hold of it and jumps for joy, doubt that will make Jimmy Anderson any happier.

Lunch comes around with the score on 113 - 4. Andrew Flintoff finishes the 1st session with 5 - 1 - 7 - 1 and Anderson finishes 6 - 1 - 16 - 2.

Check back later for the 2nd sessions play.

Here are the men to fall -

 

[Pakistani Army]

Hmm...The Kiwis are in a spot of bother here. They need a partnership. Great to see Flintoff bowling good!

Great graphics work and presentation Simon. Keep up the good works!

 

[Simbazz]

Anderson and Flintoff to continue after lunch. 3 overs into the 2nd session Jimmy Anderson finds some nice length and Oram is adjudged not out, it was close but the umpires are having a good game out there so far.

Again, Flintoff almost has Oram out on 24* (34) but again not out, just outside offstump. Oram is looking for a big score here.

After 13 lively overs, Anderson has given way for Monty, can Monty do something here? Anderson's figures 13 - 1 - 42 - 2.

Flintoff completes 12 overs before giving way to Sidebottom for his second spell. Flintoff finishes with a decent 12 - 2 - 26 - 1, he's going at 2.17 per over, brilliant comeback!

Sidebottom finding some nice swing, in his 12th over he finds some pace off the pitch, and bounce. Straight into Ryder's ribs, he's on the floor. Looks like a broken rib and he'll take no more part in NZ's innings here, doubtful for the rest of the match! 32 (80) retired hurt. Vettori in!

Tea interval comes with the score on 223 - 4, which in actual fact is for 5 with Ryder retired hurt. Sidebottom is still going slightly expensive, his figures are 20 - 1 - 86 - 1. Panesar is also going quite expensively, 9 overs going for 36.

Oram has figures of 68 (109) and Vettori is going for 29 (41).

The England bowlers are all doing decently well, but a break through in this partnership could leave New Zealand without a hope, as a rampant England might just occur.

​

 

[Pakistani Army]

Great comeback back the Kiwis. They are batting well here.

Great works Simon. Loving this story mate!

 

[Simbazz]

Cheers, i'm finding this easier now, as i'm better on PS. So i can just do a quick graphic in an update. I should be able to get through a good amount of pages over the summer So plenty more! Please leave a messege if you like the story!

 

[Left_Hander]

Can I leave a comment if I don't like the story?

Really New Zealand is 5/223 because Ryder is retired hurt. England is going well at the moment.

 

[King Pietersen]

You dropped Strauss....why ? He was immense for England on my ICC 08 save, and his last Test innings was a 150. I'd rather have him opening and drop Shah, not sure that Vaughan is good enough opener. Good story so far, liking the presentation, could do with including a scorecard at the end of every post, just to make it easier to see how many each batsmen got, who got the wickets, how out etc. Keep going, this is good stuff.

 

[Simbazz]

Cheers for the feedback

 

[Simbazz]

Well theres no change in the bowlers after Tea, Sidebottom bowling, he's finding a little bit of swing with the old ball. Panesar is also starting to find that spin out there! The pitch will be a spinners heaven on Day 5!

After 2 overs from Sidey, Shah replaces him. This might be a bad move here, both batsmen are looking to make up for lost scores, and really need them. I reckon Oram will have a field day!

Oram instead tries to attack Monty, and edges him to slip, only for a certain Kevin Pietersen to drop him. Thats now 91* (139), i said earlier in the day that Oram will probably make a big score!

In Panesar's next over, Oram skies a ball way up into the air and Anderson looks composed underneath it, Oram is on 99 and you can see that century disappearing for every second that ball plummits into Andersons waiting hands! And shock horrer, an England mistake, Anderson basically pushes the ball to the boundry and Oram has his century, well played that Big New Zealander, this man really does wear his heart on his sleeve! Vettori is up the pitch to both laugh and congratulate. Fantasticly timed innings.

Both humilation and joy for England, after that terrible mistake, Monty finds some absolute amazing spin off the pitch which totally confused Vettori and he plows a fullish ball straight to Sidebottom at mid-on! He has gone for 64(84), he has been vital to NZ's cause here, he allowed Oram to get that century. The score is now a much more respectable 317-5. Redmond comes out for his debut, Monty looks like he knows something I dont!

He must have done, Redmond has gone for a big heave out of the park, and has only hit it as far as Anderson, Monty turned in disgust as he saw the balls direction, but this time Anderson pouches and Redmond is on his way, first ball duck. QUACK! 317-6.

Hat-trick from Monty doesn't happen, but his last ball of the over does almost catch the edge of Gillespie's bat.

80th over, and the new ball is not taken. Shah is also brought out of the attack for an astounding 6 - 0 - 44 - 0, thats 7.33 runs per over. I thought he'd make the batsmen work on this pitch. Pietersen is brought in.

Pietersen goes for a maiden in his 1st over, and in his second he picks up the wicket of Gillespie. It wasn't a "clever," wicket by KP because had Gillespie been awake there was 4 runs to be had, instead he chipped it up to Sidebottom in the covers, good day in the field for Sidey.

With 18 minutes left, the new ball is taken, but nothing comes of it and Sidey and Broad play out the day. So the score is 325-7.

Sidebottom 22 - 2 - 101 - 1
Broad 11 - 0 - 42 - 0

J Oram 135 (221)
O'Brien 7 (15)

Those are the stats at the end of the day. Its been a day where no team has ever been on top properly, England have had thier lions share of ups, but New Zealand have had thier wits and have fought back well, if Oram can steer the tail up to 400, that score would seriously be competitive. Anything less, and i'd say its a lost cause.

Man of the day for England is probably Sidebottom, hasn't bowled up to standards but has been in the field and done it to the highest standard. England also have Panesar to be proud of, he has leaked a few runs here and there but has caused trouble.

Oram has been the man of the day overall, he has controlled his own innings, and his partners well. He has laid back and allowed his team mates to hit out, or has taken the strike and hit out himself. This guy is a credit to NZ!

Join us tomorrow for day 2

​

 

[Jit]

great update mate keep it up

 

[Simbazz]

So, we're here at Day Two, its a lovely summers morning and the players are on thier way out. Two wickets to get, and probably atleast 50 runs more needed to even this out.

Broad and Sidebottom to continue just as last night. The ball is 5 overs old.

Two overs into Broad's spell, and he finds a bit of outswing and O'Brien puts the bat out there and can only edge it to Cook at 1st slip. 8 (29) and the score is 378 - 8. Good partnership there, but Oram was basically chancing his arms.

13 balls later, Sidebottom gets a C&B. Thats New Zealand all out for 383-9. Martin tried to get a 4 there, but could only pop it up to Sidey! 4 (13). Decent spell from the two boys this morning.

Oram finishes unbeaten on a great score of 149* (262). MoM is probably waiting for him whichever way this match goes.

​

 

[Pakistani Army]

Well not that bad a score by the Kiwis considering that they were under pressure early on.

Great knock by Oram

Great works Simon. Keep up the good works.

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Yeah not a bad score at all . Oram was just brilliant . Loved the scorecards mate ...and good writing...KUTGW