Oram ton ensures draw

Jacob Oram smashes Kevin Pietersen into the Lord's pavilion © Getty Images

Buy this photo

New Zealand all-rounder Jacob Oram scored a thrilling fifth Test century, off just 120 deliveries, to help secure a draw in the first npower Test against England at Lord’s.

Oram came to the crease with the tourists 120 for four - leading by just 78 and Brendon McCullum having retired hurt - but saw his side to safety before falling to Ryan Sidebottom for 101 with the total on 252.

Oram added 132 with Daniel Flynn to frustrate England, who had glimpsed an unlikely victory after lunch when opener Jamie How was the fourth batsman out and McCullum was forced off, struck on the left forearm by a vicious Stuart Broad delivery.

New Zealand accepted the offer of light at 5pm on 269 for six - 227 ahead - with Flynn unbeaten on 29 from 117 balls and Vettori nought not out.

The hosts had been rewarded for disciplined bowling in the morning session, picking up the wickets of Aaron Redmond, James Marshall and Ross Taylor, but struggled to replicate that success after lunch.

Resuming this morning two runs behind on 40 without loss, Redmond moved New Zealand into the lead from the third ball of the day but went soon after for 17, edging James Anderson to Andrew Strauss at first slip.

How found the boundary for the first time today with a crashing hook off Anderson for four which hit the advertising boards with such force that the umpires changed the ball at the end of the over.

But How may have regretted the severity of his shot when Sidebottom immediately moved the new ball, which appeared to swing more, into Marshall’s pads to dismiss him for nought.

Taylor was twice fortunate to survive, edging between Paul Collingwood and Alastair Cook at second and third slip for four before Strauss could not hold on to a sharp head-height chance.

How reached his second Test fifty, slashing Broad high over gully before Taylor upped the tempo, prompting Vaughan to turn to Monty Panesar, who trapped the latter lbw for 20 with his sixth delivery.

McCullum got off the mark with a hefty blow down the ground for a one-bounce four off Panesar and continued to live dangerously before lunch.

James Anderson has opener Aaron Redmond caught by Andrew Strauss at first slip for 17

Broad removed How soon after the interval as the opener attempted to work the ball to leg but succeeded only in edging to Cook at third slip.

With only seven runs added in the 20 minutes after lunch, McCullum, who was unbeaten on 11, left the field and was taken to hospital for an X-ray which showed no fracture.

Oram and Flynn looked to improve the scoring rate but the former was fortunate to evade Ian Bell when he clipped Sidebottom in the air through midwicket.

He made the most of this let-off by striking Panesar for six over midwicket to take New Zealand’s lead into three figures.

The pair continued to move the tourists towards safety in the hour before tea with the only alarm coming when Oram, on 28, edged Sidebottom just over Collingwood at second slip for four. The powerful left-hander went to his fifty, off 67 balls, with a powerful cut off Anderson.

Oram continued in the same vein after tea, one four off Panesar just eluding Anderson running back to long-on, and a straight six into the pavilion off Kevin Pietersen.

He bore down on three figures with increasing ferocity and reached the landmark, from 120 deliveries, with his 15th four - a back-foot cover drive - to add to his two sixes.

Sidebottom, who took the new ball in his previous over, bowled Oram with the first ball of his next.

McCullum returned and attacked with some lusty blows, only to be undone by Anderson.

He had him caught behind for 24 before the weather, which has had such a huge bearing on this match, forced the players off for a final time.