Panesar - Vettori is key

England hero wary of threat posed by rival spinner

By Joe Drabble   Last updated: 26th May 2008

Monty Panesar celeb England v New Zealand 2nd Test Old Trafford

Panesar: Match-turning display

Vettori will probably have a big impact but if we can play him well like we did last night then hopefully we can knock off the runs and win the Test.

Monty Panesar
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Monty Panesar has challenged England's batsmen to nullify the threat of rival left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori and complete a record-breaking victory in the second Test at Old Trafford.

Panesar inspired a stunning fightback against New Zealand as he claimed Test-best figures of 6-37 to dismiss the tourists for a lowly 114 after they looked on course to secure victory having engineered a potentially decisive 179-run first-innings lead.

The Northamptonshire off-spinner's superb display left England chasing a victory target of 294, which would eclipse the previous best successful fourth innings run chase at the ground of 231-3 recorded against West Indies in 2004.

England will resume on Monday morning needing a further 218 for victory after reaching 76-1 - Alastair Cook (28) the only wicket to fall.

And having played his part in England's amazing recovery, Panesar believes it is time for the batsmen to perform after they delivered another insipid display on Sunday morning to be dismissed for only 202.

Tough pitch

"We've set ourselves a good platform and hopefully we can build on that," said Panesar.

"It's a tough pitch to bat on, but with the batting line-up that we have, hopefully we can knock these runs off."

Panesar singled out fellow left-arm spinner Vettori, who claimed another five-wicket haul as England lost six wickets for only 42 runs, as the biggest threat.

But he has taken confidence in the assured manner England played Vettori during the final session on day three before he struck six overs before the close to dismiss Alastair Cook.

"Vettori will probably have a big impact but if we can play him well like we did last night then hopefully we can knock off the runs and win the Test," said Panesar.

Kiwi confidence

"For us to turn it around and end on a positive note was a good sign for us. We knew we had to bowl them out yesterday if we were going to be in this game."

But the tourists remain equally confident having witnessed England's dismal attempts to conquer the conditions earlier in the day.

Seamer Iain O'Brien believes they are favourites, by saying: "Sixteen wickets fell yesterday and we need to wrap nine more so, at the moment, we're certainly in front.

"Our initial goal was to get a lead of anything over 300 and we weren't too fazed with what we got so we were pretty happy being nearly 300.

"No team has scored more than 230-odd to win here and on that deck it's going to be a hell of a chase if they get it, but I personally think we'll come out all right."