Cricket: O'Connor hits timely form

LONDON - New ball bowler Shayne O'Connor has put pressure on the New Zealand test bowlers after taking five wickets against county champions Leicestershire yesterday at Grace Road, Leicester.

At stumps Leicestershire were 333 for nine in their second innings for a lead of 198 runs after bowling New Zealand out for 260 early in the day.

O'Connor was the pick of the New Zealand bowlers, bagging five wickets for 65 off 24 overs to challenge for a test place for the first time on tour. Test incumbent Geoff Allott was less fortunate, unable to pick up a wicket yesterday.

O'Connor got rid of the first five batsmen and looked in more menacing mood than he has all tour. His other two games returned him just three wickets.

He ripped out Darren Maddy, Darren Stevens, Iain Sutcliffe, Ben Smith and test batsman Aftab Habib to leave the home side in disarray at 107 for five.

The selectors have a positive problem on their hands over who to leave out between Allott, O'Connor and Simon Doull for the third test at Old Trafford, Manchester, starting on Thursday.

The New Zealanders toiled in the field under the searing heat for 98 overs.

Coach Steve Rixon wasn't upset that New Zealand will have to fight harder to win this match.

The Kiwis will have a winning chase of around 200 which could be just the ideal preparation leading into the test, with the series tied at 1-1.

Rixon won't worry if it takes Matthew Bell, Stephen Fleming, Nathan Astle and Craig McMillan two days to get the runs as long as they occupy the crease.

"It will be the perfect preparation if the top four get runs and bat for sessions.

"Shayne bowled with a little more control than the rest so that was the highlight of the day.

"He's let us know he is there, as Andrew Penn did, getting 69 not out and six wickets.

"That's exactly what New Zealand cricket needs more than anything else - people doing that on a day-to-day basis - putting the pressure on the test players."

Leicester looked like being beaten inside two days before a 163-run sixth wicket stand.

However, the Black Caps seized the initiative at the end of the day, cleaning out three county batsmen in seven balls without a run being scored.

The Kiwis have lost only one out of seven games on tour - against England in the first test at Edgbaston.

They corrected that blot with a memorable victory at Lord's to level the test series, with two tests remaining. - NZPA