Michael Vaughan's almost inexplicably rash attempt to pull a good length ball outside his off stump in the first over of England's second innings yesterday evening proved to be the low point of the baffling first phase of this deciding Test. That is ironic, because England, thanks almost entirely to the efforts of Kevin Pietersen, Ryan Sidebottom and Stuart Broad, looked like winning it comfortably when the second day ended.

Only four hours earlier New Zealand had gone to lunch far better placed than their opponents. Until the point of Vaughan's brainstorm, curiously apprioriate to a hectic weekend's cricket, no fewer than 14 wickets had fallen on the second day on an essentially easy-paced pitch, albeit one on which extra bounce from the thick brown grass has given seam bowlers an enjoyable time against impatient batsmen.

Pietersen's 11th Test century and Stephen Fleming's breezy 59 from 72 balls were glorious exceptions to the general rule of careworn failure by the batsmen of both sides. Pietersen's timely innings on the first day was much the more substantial, 129 out of 208 for seven when he was out, the third of the richly promising Tim Southee's five wickets in his first Test. Pietersen's ability to use his long reach and control affairs off his front foot gave England's bowlers a chance that was taken with spirit, skill and elan by Sidebottom, the outstanding cricketer of this generally rather mediocre series.

Sidebottom and the admirably controlled Stuart Broad wrested the game back for England with a magnificent alliance through the afternoon session as New Zealand lost their last nine wickets for 65 in 25 overs. Like most of England's middle order they lack any confidence at present and in some cases, notably perhaps Matthew Bell and Grant Elliot, they look out of their depth in Test cricket.

A succession of poor strokes gifted the initiative back to the bowlers after a horrible morning for England in which they lost their last three wickets for 13 to finish some hundred runs short of a par total. Thereupon James Anderson, in one of his Mr. Hyde moods, was savaged by Fleming as, with a series of princely cuts and drives including three fours and a six from successive balls, he fed off a series of deliveries pitched too short and wide of his off stump.

Dreams of a fairy-tale century in his last Test ended when Fleming, his weight on the back foot, drove at the bounce of a ball that left him a fraction and edged it to second slip. He had been missed by Struass at first slip off Anderson before lunch but England's catching was faultless after that, Strauss making amends when How, like so many, edged a drive.

With 16 wickets from the first two Tests, 'Our Ryan' produced another outstanding display of fast left-arm bowling to take his collection for the series to 23 with one innings to go, an England record in New Zealand. Learning to go round the wicket more often, largely through watching his Indian counterparts last Summer, has broadened his repetoire significantly. His seven for 47, equalling Phil Tufnell's best analysis by an England bowler in New Zealand, ruined an innings that was promising to take the game out of England's reach while Fleming and the sound, compact Jamie How were putting on 102 for the second wicket.

Sidebottom paid tribute to Broad's support (and Pietersen might have done likewise for the value of Broad's fesity innings of 42) but he was reluctant to add that he had been helped by some weak batting. Call it the Twenty20 effect if you wish but batsmen of both sides got themselves out like Morris Minor drivers imagining they were at the controls of a Ferrari. Too many of them gambled rather than grafted and paid the penalty. At least Andrew Strauss, with his career undoubtedly at stake, got his head down and battled through to a third morning that started with what looked like a winning England lead of 176.

The first innings lead was 85 and there was no need, with more than three days left, for hurry. The captain seemed to have pre-determined a positive approach but there is a line beteen controlled attack and recklessness. Alastair Cook stayed the right side of it, playing some handsome drives through the covers while Strauss battled with his demons. The two left-handers looked like making it through to the third day together until, six overs from a delayed close, Cook tried to force Jeetan Patel off the back foot and got a top edge into Brendon McCullum's gloves.

Daniel Vettori, unlucky as a bowler in this series, had seen Cook dropped off his arm ball by McCullum shortly before. It was a bad day all round for McCullum, whose dismissal, cutting fiercely at a ball from Sidebottom from round the wicket and losing his off stump, epitomised the sheer thoughtlessness of much of the batting.

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