Oram ton ensures draw

New Zealand bat throughout final day

By Graeme Mair   Last updated: 20th May 2008

Jacob Oram New Zealand v England 1st Test May 08

Oram: spectacular return to form

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Jacob Oram's century allowed New Zealand to bat out for a draw in the first Test against England at Lord's.

Oram shrugged off a poor run of form to record his fifth Test century at the exact moment his country needed it most.

The all-rounder strode to the middle when Brendon McCullum was forced to retire hurt and head to hospital for an X-ray after being struck on the forearm early in the afternoon session. At that stage New Zealand were 120-4, 78 ahead overall, with defeat still a possibility.

But Oram and Daniel Flynn shared a 132-run stand that ensured the series opener ended in the stalemate that had always looked on the cards after the weather took 153.2 overs out of the first three days.

Oram was bowled by Ryan Sidebottom (2-65) for 101, allowing McCullum to confirm he had suffered only bruising by returning to the crease to resume his innings.

And although the Black Caps vice captain added only 13 runs before edging behind off James Anderson (2-64) for 24, New Zealand were 227 runs ahead and safe.

Shortly after McCullum's dismissal, an offer of bad light was accepted and the skippers shook hands on a draw with the tourists finishing at 269-6.

Ball change

New Zealand had resumed on 40-0 and lost opener Aaron Redmond (17) in the sixth over of the morning when he pushed forward and edged Anderson to Andrew Strauss at first slip.

England persuaded umpires Steve Bucknor and Simon Taufel to change the ball, which had become mis-shapen and immediately made a second breakthrough when Sidebottom's inswinger trapped James Marshall lbw for a nine-ball duck.

That left New Zealand on 52-2 - only 10 ahead - and they were fortunate to then benefit from two missed chances in the field. Ross Taylor edged Sidebottom between Paul Collingwood and Alastair Cook in the slip cordon, while Strauss grassed a more straightforward edge off Jamie How - then on 46 - in Stuart Broad's first over.

That escape allowed How to reach a half-century - his second in Tests - by easing Broad down to third man for his seventh boundary in his next over.

The introduction of left-arm spinner Monty Panesar (1-56) for the tiring Anderson at the Nursery End, finally brought the third wicket.

Attempting to work the ball into the leg-side, Taylor (20) misjudged the flight and was hit on the boot, prompting umpire Taufel to uphold Panesar's lbw appeal.

New Zealand lunched at 113-3 but lost How for a battling 68 just three overs into the afternoon when he edged a full-length Broad (1-54) delivery to Cook at third slip.

McCullum injury

And when Broad followed that breakthrough by hitting McCullum on the forearm four overs later and forcing him to retire hurt, England had created an opening.

That was firmly shut by Oram, who counter-attacked impressively and was ably supported by a more sedate contribution from his fifth-wicket partner Flynn (29no).

Oram spanked 15 fours and two sixes to reach his hundred from 120 balls, an innings that turned a likely draw into a reality.

The result extends the recent run of draws at Lord's to five, a sequence that dates back to 2006. There is little respite for the players before the second Test gets under way on Friday at Old Trafford, live on Sky Sports.

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