Awesome Oram thwarts England

Date released: 19 May 2008

A powerful century from Jacob Oram is the highlight of the fifth and final day of the Test Match at Lord's.

Eventually, the captains shake hands on what was a hard-earned draw for both sides.

Got it taped: Vettori's name goes up on the Honours Board 5:25pm: There'll be more sticky tape and biro in the Kiwi dressing room to put Jacob Oram's name on the visitors' batting Honours Board.

Naturally, the online version of the famous Lord's Honours Boards have already been updated. Michael Vaughan, Daniel Vettori and Oram will all keep the MCC's engraver busy.

Vettori collects his man-of-the-match award 5:22pm: Daniel Vettori, as predicted in the Lords.org live match summary, gets the npower man-of-the-match champagne for his doughty batting and 5-69 bowling figures.

Read through the over-by-over summary of the fifth day:

New Zealand 2nd innings

MATCH DRAWN

5:04pm: Vettori's having a chat to Simon Taufel and... they're shaking hands. That's it. They've called it a draw. Michael Vaughan shaking hands with Vettori too.

5:02pm 87th over: It's a lefty convention in the middle now: the two left-handed Daniels for New Zealand facing the left-arm bowling of Ryan Sidebottom.

5:01pm 86th over: Anderson's having a right old chat to McCullum. Whatever he said hasn't worked, McCullum hits him for four more.

Anderson perseveres though and gets an edge! Gone! Ambrose catches it comfortably. NZ 269-6 McCullum out for 24. That brings in the skipper, Daniel Vettori.

First ball to Vettori and Anderson has a big appeal for LBW - Steve Bucknor's unimpressed though.

4:53pm 85th over: Sidebottom's getting some good new-ball swing again and has a big appeal against Flynn - but it's turned down.

Flynn opens the face and finds the gap around the slips - only his second four.

4:50pm 84th over: McCullum's changed his padding (now wearing an arm guard over that bruising) but he won't change his style. He clouts that one from Anderson for four.

Anderson's not picking his length well - a short one has McCullum whacking him for another four.

4:44pm 83rd over: They've finally got Oram out. Sidebottom, almost inevitably, the bowler. Sidebottom knocks off his bails, with one that nips back, to send Oram back to the Pavilion.

A sporting pat on the back and word from Sidebottom to Oram who batted brilliantly for his 101. NZ 252-5. Brendan McCullum's coming back out to bat.

4:35pm 82nd over: James Anderson back in the attack with the new ball. A maiden for Anderson.

Oram 100

4:34pm 81st over: The 81st over will see the new ball. Michael Vaughan takes it at the earliest opportunity and gives it to Ryan Sidebottom.

But Sidebottom's first ball is popped up outside Oram's off stump and he's happy to hit those for four. New Zealand's lead is now up over 200 runs.

A straight drive from Oram goes for four more, now just a boundary from his ton.

That's it - first chance, he takes it. Another boundary and rapturous applause for Oram. He's batted brilliantly.

4:30pm 80th over: Neat and tidy from Panesar.

4:28pm 79th over: Two runs from the over, Flynn scoring them from Pietersen's bowling.

4:26pm 78th over: Panesar offers width and in this form Oram won't sniff at those - he hits it for another four.

4:24pm 77th over: Pietersen's back on and probably wishes he wasn't now... Oram steps into that one and has the Members in the Pavilion ducking for cover - six!

He's sweeping the next one for four more. Oram's not wasting time - he wants a century.

4:19pm 76th over: Short from Broad and Oram hits that for an effortless four.

Oram's opening up - he cuts to the off side this time for another four. 100 partnership.

4:10pm 75th over: Monty Panesar is back again from the Nursery End. Oram clouts one, aiming for the rope... it's in the air with Anderson chasing it. He doesn't catch it but makes a valiant attempt to bat it backwards over his head to save the boundary... but his foot was on the rope it's four.

4:10pm 74th over: Stuart Broad returns from the Pavilion End. Oram's still picking the gaps though and finds another one for four.

4:04pm 73rd over: James Anderson looking for a breakthrough after tea. Just the single from it.

McCullum heads for hospital and an x-ray 3:48pm: Brendan McCullum is on the field in the tea interval, playing a few practice shots. Good news that he's not badly hurt.

3:41pm: This partnership have done well for New Zealand at a tricky time. The Kiwi dressing room must be happy, surely they're safe now. A draw looks more and more likely.

NZ 199-4 TEA

3:40pm 72nd over: Nudging singles from that Panesar over and that's tea.

3:37pm: Pietersen's out of the attack - it's Monty Panesar coming on again, from the Pavilion End this time.

Alastair Cook slides to stop this one on a long day in the field for England 3:33pm 71st over: Oram mis-times that one and it goes way, way up into the air. Three fielders all converge on the spot but it drops safe.

Both Oram and Flynn test Michael Vaughan's fielding at close-range - and both get away with it.

3:31pm 70th over: Flynn is happy to rock back against Pietersen and wait for it to come onto him - he does just that for a couple of twos.

Oram 50

3:27pm 69th over: Width offered from Anderson and Oram eagerly pounces on it, hitting it for four to bring up his fifty.

3:25pm 68th over: A few singles from that over but it's been a while since England looked like getting either of these batsmen out.

At this stage it would be a brave man that would bet against a draw.

3:22pm 67th over: A binary over from Anderson: 0 1 0 1 0 0.

3:18pm 66th over: He's ripping his fingers through the ball Pietersen and getting some decent spin. Daniel Flynn looks bemused but swats a loose one for a single.

3:15pm: Yes, you read it right at the top of the page, Kevin Pietersen comes on at the Pavilion End. A bit of spin from the part-time bowler.

3:12pm 65th over: James Anderson back in the attack from the Nursery End again for this over.

Four more for Oram playing off his hip. The left-hander's nearing a crucial fifty.

3:10pm 64th over: Sidebottom's raging at Pietersen as he topples over like a felled tree, attempting to stop one from Oram - which goes for two.

Pietersen has no chance with that one though - Oram finding gaps again for four. The fifty partnership between Flynn and Oram.

3:05pm 63rd over: Bounce and turn for Panesar but it goes past everyone, batsmen and fielders - four byes.

More news on McCullum: The x-ray shows no break. He'll have some nasty bruising but the bone is intact. He will bat again but the New Zealanders have yet to decide where he'll come back into the order.

3:04pm 62nd over: First ball and Oram edges it - right over the top of the slips for four.

3:00pm 61st over: Panesar has Flynn shuffling backwards and gets one to hit him on the pads but Simon Taufel is unmoved. Another maiden means Sidebottom can get at Oram again.

2:58pm 60th over: A single for Flynn gets him to double figures. Oram finds a gap and it runs down the hill for four.

2:53pm 59th over: Oram's picking up ones and twos off Panesar but he's taking some risks.

2:49pm 58th over: Sidebottom's got Oram squared-up again but he cannot find the edge.

Oram's keen to get to the other end to play Panesar but almost mistimes a run against James Anderson's arm. The batsmen are safe though.

2:46pm 57th over: Another maiden for Panesar's count, that's six for him now.

NZ 150-4 DRINKS - NZ lead by 108 runs.

2:39pm 56th over: Sidebottom has a big appeal against Oram - but it hits Oram above the knee roll and umpire Bucknor shakes the appeal off. That's drinks.

2:35pm 55th over: Oram's happier against Panesar though. He gets one wide of off and hoiks it clear of the rope - six! A single means it'll be Sidebottom against Oram again next over.

2:33pm 54th over: Sidebottom gets the first ball of the over to go right through Oram. Great ball. Oram hits the next one - but it's in the air! Wide of Ian Bell at mid-wicket though and it's three more for Oram.

A single for Flynn means the resumption of Oram v Sidebottom. Once again, the big New Zealander is playing and missing.

2:29pm 53rd over: Three for Oram as he steps into one from Panesar. Flynn times the next one slightly better, finding the boundary rope.

2:26pm 52nd over: A maiden for Sidebottom. You feel the match could hinge on the next few minutes. The action here and in the x-ray room at (the appropriately named) Wellington Hospital.

2:22pm: Ryan Sidebottom brought into the attack instead of Broad. Given Oram's pre-match comments about how Sidebottom had the upper hand on him, this is hardly surprising.

News on McCullum: He's been taken to hospital for an x-ray. The good news for New Zealand fans is that there is a hospital approximately 50 yards out through the North Gate at Lord's.

2:22pm 51st over: Oram's starting to settle in - he hits Panesar for his first boundary.

2:18pm 50th over: The Kiwi batsmen look wary of Broad after that blow to McCullum.

2:14pm 49th over: More spin from Monty. Another tight over.

2:11pm: That could be a game-changing over - McCullum is the Kiwi's best batsman. With him in the dressing room, hurt, England may fancy their chances.

2:06pm 48th over: Ouch. We're going to have a break in play as McCullum gets treatment after taking a blow from Broad. He's a hard man McCullum but he's been hurt by that one. The TV cameras are picking up a nasty welt on his left forearm.

McCullum's walking off, hurt. That'll bring in Jacob Oram. McCullum could return later, if he recovers but as he trudges up the Pavilion steps he looks very unhappy.

McCullum retires hurt

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2:03pm 47th over: Another maiden for Panesar but good defensive work by Flynn.

2:01pm 46th over: Loud cries of "Howzat?!" ring around the ground as Broad hits Flynn on the pads but Steve Bucknor says no.

1:55pm 45th over: In the air! Flynn dabbing at Panesar but it flies wide of Ian Bell at short-leg.

A maiden from Panesar and he's got the Kiwi debutant, Flynn, looking like the nervy Test Match beginner he is.

1:52pm 44th over: Great bowling from Broad and he's got his man! How gets an inside edge and Alastair Cook is the man taking the catch at gully. How gone for 68. NZ 115-4 Daniel Flynn is next up - out for just nine in the first innings.

1:46pm 43rd over: A maiden from Panesar from the other end too.

Good lunch fayre here at Lord's. The players rave about Alain and Linda Le Ker's food in the players' dining room. For the spectators you can get everything from fish and chips to curry in the Food Village.

1:43pm 42nd over: Broad bowls the first over after lunch - it's a maiden.

NZ 113-3 LUNCH

1:03pm 41st over: Vaughan seems content to let How have singles - he wants to let Panesar loose on McCullum.

McCullum's happy to ruin their plans with a single of his own. Another single and McCullum's back on strike. Vaughan beckons the field in again, inviting McCullum to try and hit it over the top.

And that's lunch.

12:59pm 40th over: McCullum is swinging at everything. He goes for a wild hook at Broad but misses again. Perhaps in his mind McCullum's still in the Indian Premier League? Perhaps he only knows one way of playing - aggressively.

12:56pm 39th over: Wild shouts of "Catch!" all round but McCullum pops it just over short-leg's head.

Next ball McCullum swings and misses so hard he almost falls over. Ambose has the bails off but McCullum's still in his crease. Then a quick single and McCullum looks relieved to be avoiding Panesar.

The spinner has one straightening up on How and goes for his customary big appeal - but nothing doing for the umpire.

12:53pm 38th over: Monty in action again - chasing up the hill as McCullum hits Broad - he stops it short of the rope. Three runs.

Broad has McCullum playing and missing at a couple too - McCullum, as ever, is going to go out swinging. England's job is to get him out before he swings too many to the boundary.

12:48pm 37th over: A How single makes it Panesar v McCullum again for the rest of this over.

McCullum is cool personified though - stepping up to whack Panesar right back over his head for four.

12:44pm 36th over: Broad beats How's bat to "Oooohs" from the England slip cordon. A quick single for How and that's 100 up for New Zealand.

100 up for New Zealand

McCullum's first ball against Broad and he's swinging... and missing. The Black Caps' big-hitter shows no sign of altering his boombastic style - advancing down the wicket to Broad's pace.

12:40pm 35th over: Indeed - here comes Panesar from the Nursery End for this over.

How welcomes him to the match by sweeping him for four.

Panesar's first appeal of the day, LBW on Taylor... and up goes Taufel's finger, he's out! NZ 99-3 Taylor out for 20 - next up, the dangerman, Brendan McCullum.

Panesar had some good appeals, turned down, against McCullum in the first innings - it'll be an interesting contest this one.

12:30pm 34th over: Another boundary, this time for How from Broad's bowling. The Kiwis are starting to pick up the run-rate.

12:29pm: Monty Panesar is doing the arm-windmills - surely not long before the spinner comes into the attack.

12:26pm 33rd over: Taylor gets in on the act now, hitting Anderson for two boundaries.

How 50 - Listen to our exclusive interview with Jamie How (3.1 MB)

12:23pm 32nd over: How clips Broad over the in-field for four and that's his half-century.

12:21pm 31st over: Another maiden for Anderson, more movement for the seamer too.

12:18pm: The TV replays, on the new digital screens at Lord's, don't make good viewing for Strauss - it came straight to him, at head height and he had both hands on it... but put it down.

12:17pm 30th over: Indeed it is Broad bowling this over.

How lines one up and takes a real baseball swing at it - and completely misses. Next delivery How edges it straight to Strauss who juggles again... and drops it!

Broad has his head in his hands... a wry smile from Strauss.

12:12pm 29th over: Tidy stuff from Anderson but no real danger. Stuart Broad is warming up and looks to be coming on from the Pavilion End.

12:08pm 28th over: How is still finding the gaps and trotting gently towards his fifty.

12:04pm: Still plenty of space here at 'The Home of Cricket' - still plenty of time to get yourself down here to enjoy some Test Match cricket for just £20 for adults; £10 for over 65s or for free if you're under 16!

NZ 72-2 DRINKS

12:01pm 27th over: More loose stuff from Anderson and How steps into it, driving for four and holding the pose for the cameras. Drinks.

11:55am 26th over: More movement for Sidebottom but How's playing it well, picking up a couple of twos.

11:47am 25th over: Swing for Anderson too - Taylor cannot make up his mind and ends up clipping it just between second and third slip. Agony for Anderson - four runs.

A more deliberate boundary from Taylor this time, hitting Anderson down the slope for four.

Got it taped: Vettori's name goes up on the Honours Board 11:44am: News from the Kiwi dressing room and - ahead of the board engraver arriving, Daniel Vettori's got his name up on the Honours Board... albeit temporarily, for now.

11:40am 24th over: The umpires question the ball again and the box of old balls comes out.

Sidebottom gets the 'new' (old) ball and first ball it swings massively! Marshall rapped on his pads and Steve Bucknor raises the finger - he's out. NZ 52-2 Marshall out for nought. Ross Taylor coming out.

How hooks Anderson to the boundary 11:37am 23rd over: A loose one from Anderson and How hooks him right to the boundary.

11:32am 22nd over: Anderson's buzzing - he dives hard in the field to make a possible boundary into just one. A tight over from Sidebottom but, unlike Anderson, he doesn't seem to be troubling the batsmen yet.

11:28am 21st over: Edged! And gone! Anderson has Redmond dangling his bat outside off and Andrew Strauss has another juggle and catch moment. NZ 47-1 Redmond out for 17.

Marshall has a nervy start - some lightening quick work from Ian Bell at short-leg has the bails off, but Marshall grounded his bat in time... just.

Lively bounce off the wicket for Anderson and England are bouncing too.

11:22am 20th over: At last some runs - just two and a single but progress for New Zealand.

11:17am 19th over: Yet another maiden. Not much movement for either Sidebottom or Anderson and the Black Caps openers are waiting, patiently for the balls they can play.

11:12am 18th over: A maiden from Sidebottom too - trying to tempt How outside his off stump but the stand-in captain for the early part of the tour isn't interested.

11:08am 17th over: A maiden from Anderson.

11:04am: All seam to start with for England, James Anderson from the Nursery End.

11:02am 16th over: Ryan Sidebottom resumes from the Pavilion End. Three slips in, it looks like Michael Vaughan's going to chase a possible result.

A gentle and comfortably run three for Redmond and now New Zealand lead by one run.

10:59am: Here they come, umpires first - closely followed by the England fielders.

The Kiwi batsmen standing aside to let the England team lead the way before Jamie How and Aaron Redmond make their way to the middle.

How must Aaron Redmond be feeling? He's facing first and was on a pair for a while yesterday but settled in well. He's now had to make that walk through the Lord's Long Room five times now. When will he make his sixth and final walk through there - back to the dressing room?

10:55am: Email us - Don't feel you can only email us about the match - got some questions about Lord's, MCC or the state of the game itself? Send us your comments, questions or suggestions. If we can get an answer for you, we will!

10:50am: If you're stuck at your desk at work or unable to make it to Lord's stick with us, we'll keep you up to date with a flavour of the match action, photos and updates.

Email us - to let us know what you think. Black Caps fans, are you confident of a good result? England fans, can Sidebottom, Panesar et al give England a sniff of victory?

Review day four's match action

10:45am: Tick-tock... we're 15 minutes from the start of play. It's another clear morning here at 'HQ' and an exciting match to enjoy. There are still plenty of tickets left if you're wavering about whether to come down or not.

9:55am: Morning cricket fans. Another beautiful day at 'The Home of Cricket' and we're heading into a fifth day in this Test Match.

It should be a cracker with all three results still a possibility. If you're not already on your way, get down here! There are loads of tickets on sale and from only £20 for adults; £10 for over 65s and free for under 16s, it's a bargain for what should be a belting day of Test Match cricket.