The main Monty

Last updated: 26th March 2008

David Lloyd NZ v Eng 3rd Test Day Five Blog

David Lloyd: a great eight weeks in New Zealand

We start again on May 15 back in England at Lord's. I expect England to win that too.

David Lloyd
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England wrapped up a first series win overseas for over three years during the early hours of the morning as they finally ended some stubborn resistance from New Zealand in Napier.

Needing five more wickets to win the third Test and take the series 2-1, England had to wait until after lunch on the final day to win the match, mainly because Kiwi debutant Tim Southee hung around to smash a 29-ball 50, ending the day on 77 not out when Chris Martin was last man out, bowled by Ryan Sidebottom.

But David Lloyd said it was England who were always in control and their main man on the final day was Monty Panesar, who took three more wickets on day five to take six in the innings.

Pressure

"It was England who were pushing forward," said Bumble in the skysports.com Video Blog.

"Monty Panesar has bowled 40 odd overs, a marathon spell and it was terrific left-arm spin bowling on an excellent Test match pitch.

"Talk about Monty, it is great for his education, he gets better and better and better. He has got a great action, he spins the ball and in interview afterwards he didn't even mention 'the right areas', you know he had said he 'keeps putting it in the right areas'.

"He has had a long bowl, thoroughly enjoyed it and won the game for England."

If Monty was key in the second innings, Bumble's series hero was Sidebottom and he thinks with the Nottinghamshire strike bowler in this kind of form, England should repeat a series win when the Kiwis come to England in the summer.

Winner

Lloyd said: "Ryan Sidebottom was man-of-the-match, he was my man of the series as well with 24 wickets.

"England can say, as the coach said at the end of the game, that we are an emerging team. They have beaten New Zealand 2-1. It has been a good effort, a good character effort.

"We start again on May 15 back in England at Lord's. I expect England to win that too."

To watch Bumble's video blog, click play on the video in the top right hand corner of your screen.

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