KEY POINTS:
As jaw-dropping as it might sound after yesterday's events, New Zealand remain bullish about their chances of winning the deciding third test against England.
When 15 wickets fall in a day, there's usually a hint of mischief in the pitch. Not so at McLean Park yesterday. New Zealand's dismissal for 168, from 103 for one, was down to clueless batting on a pitch which should have enabled them to set up a potentially match-winning situation.
England will start day three at 91 for two in their second innings, holding an overall lead of 176. But opener Jamie How insists it is still game on for New Zealand.
"It's a good deck and will be throughout the whole match," he said last night. "We back ourselves to chase down anything on it.
"They weren't great shots and put that down to being too aggressive. Guys have to look at their own game. There were too many soft dismissals."
You need to take a deep breath in contemplating prospects of a New Zealand win after yesterday. Only How, with 44, and Stephen Fleming, with 59, got past 15 as left armer Ryan Sidebottom maintained his outstanding tour with a career-best seven for 47, taking him to 23 wickets in the series. It continued a terrific series for the Yorkshireman with the shock of curly locks more suited to a rock band than a cricket field.
It was the best day of his career, he admitted, conceding the adrenaline kept him going as he churned through 13 unbroken overs in the middle session.
At lunch, things were far from rosy, but the England bowlers got their heads together.
"We said we needed to to pull our fingers out because the match was slipping away," Sidebottom said.
In Sri Lanka before Christmas, Sidebottom bowled well but without luck. New Zealand has been different.
"I have not really changed anything that I do. Some days you get your nicks and some days you don't, so every dog has its day I suppose."
How paid tribute to 30-year-old Sidebottom's effort.
"He comes in hard at you all day. He's a big hearted bowler, that's his biggest weapon, and he gives you nothing," How said.
Since returning to the test team six years after his debut in 2001, Sidebottom has taken 52 wickets in 12 matches, at 24.28 each.
He's the leader of England's bowling pack, with a tremendous work ethic.
His methods are straightforward - angle the ball across the righthander or swing it back in. And he's proof that bowlers don't need to get over-complicated in their search for success.
"I don't bowl 88-90 miles per hour. I've just tried to get the ball in the right areas. If it seams around or swings, then you're a chance," he said.
