March 06, 2008	Thursday	Safar 27 ,1429

HAMILTON (New Zealand), March 5: Jamie How fell agonisingly short of his first century while New Zealand threw away a golden opportunity to seize control of the first Test against England after the opening day on Wednesday.

How, whose previous highest Test score was 37, was dismissed for 92 in the final session at Seddon Park when he was well caught by Paul Collingwood off Monty Panesar before New Zealand ended the day on 282 for six.

Ross Taylor will resume on Thursday on 54 with captain Daniel Vettori on four. Wicket-keeper Brendon McCullum had produced a dashing 51 off 55 balls before he was dismissed in the penultimate over of the day.

He and Taylor had combined for an 86-run partnership after New Zealand looked to have squandered their chance to build a big first innings when they lurched to 191 for five.

All five of the England bowlers took a wicket with Sidebottom the pick of the attack with two for 39 off 21 overs.

Despite How’s composed innings and the partnership between Taylor and McCullum, New Zealand should have capitalised more on the benign pitch in ideal batting conditions after Vettori had won the toss and chosen to bat. “It was a good comeback,” said England coach Peter Moores.

“At tea we knew if we could get wickets three and have them six down at the end of play would have been satisfying.”

New Zealand’s run accumulation was stymied by brilliant catches from the England fielders just as they were beginning to build partnerships.

Alastair Cook produced two spectacular catches at gully, with his one-handed diving effort at full stretch to dismiss Stephen Fleming for 41 off Sidebottom after lunch the highlight of the display.

He produced a similar effort to catch the dangerous Jacob Oram for 10 during the final session, while he also took a sharp chance to dismiss Matthew Bell for 19 in the first session.

Collingwood also took a superb one-handed catch low down while off balance at first slip off Panesar to dismiss How shortly after tea.

The Central Districts batsman had survived two confident leg-before-wicket appeals off Panesar in the same over.

Mathew Sinclair (eight) was the other wicket to fall when he pushed through a Collingwood delivery and spooned a return catch to the all-rounder.

England suffered an injury blow during the first session when Ian Bell was taken to hospital for X-rays on his right hand after he was struck by a full-blooded pull shot from How.

The X-rays revealed no fracture in his hand or wrist and he would keep his arm in a sling and continue treatment.

“He will be icing it every half an hour and we will see tomorrow if he can bat,” said Moores.

“The medical staff are confident with treatment overnight he will be okay.”

Moores also said that wicket-keeper Phil Mustard had undergone minor facial surgery after he broke his nose in the nets on Tuesday.

Scoreboard

NEW ZEALAND (1st Innings):

J.M. How c Collingwood b Panesar 92

M.D. Bell c Cook b Harmison 19

S.P. Fleming c Cook b Sidebottom 41

M.S. Sinclair c and b Collingwood 8

L.R.P.L. Taylor not out 54

J.D.P. Oram c Cook b Hoggard 10

B.B. McCullum c Ambrose b Sidebottom 51

D.L. Vettori not out 4

EXTRAS (LB-2, NB-1) 3

TOTAL (for six wkts, 90 overs) 282

FALL OF WKTS: 1-44), 2-108, 3-129, 4-176, 5-191, 6-277.

TO BAT: K.D. Mills, J.S. Patel, C.S. Martin.

BOWLING (to-date): Sidebottom 21-8-39-2 (1nb); Hoggard 21-1-95-1; Harmison 15-2-64-1; Panesar 26-7-66-1; Collingwood 7-2-16-1.

ENGLAND: A.N. Cook, M.P. Vaughan, A.J. Strauss, K.P. Pietersen, P.D. Collingwood, I.R. Bell, T.R. Ambrose, R.J. Sidebottom, M.J. Hoggard, S.J. Harmison, M.S. Panesar.

UMPIRES: S.J. Davis and D.J. Harper (both Australia).

TV UMPIRE: B.F. Bowden (New Zealand).

MATCH REFEREE: J. Srinath (India).

—Reuters