Swann spins England to victory over New Zealand

LEEDS, United Kingdom (AFP) –

England’s Alastair Cook (C) holds the trophy with teammates as England celebrates a series win on the fifth day in the second international cricket Test match between England and New Zealand at Headingly in Leeds on May 28, 2013. Graeme Swann bowled England to a commanding 247-run in the second Test against New Zealand in Leeds on Tuesday with rain unable to save the tourists.

Graeme Swann bowled England to a commanding 247-run in the second Test against New Zealand in Leeds on Tuesday with rain unable to save the tourists.

Off-spinner Swann took six for 90, for a Test-best match return of 10 for 132, as New Zealand, chasing an improbable 468 for victory, were dismissed for 220.

This win gave England the two-match series 2-0 after their 170-run win in the first Test at Lord’s.

Swann’s figures topped his previous Test match-best of 10 for 181 against Sri Lanka in Colombo last year.

Rain, as much as New Zealand’s lower-order batting, was the biggest obstacle to England recording a thumping win on the final day at Headingley.

But they grabbed the four wickets they needed in the 86 minutes’ play that took place either side of delays for bad weather.

New Zealand, 158 for six overnight, resumed with captain Brendon McCullum nought not out and paceman Tim Southee four not out.

But McCullum was out for one when he chipped a full toss back to Stuart Broad, the tall fast bowler getting down well to hold the low caught and bowled chance.

That was the cue for an eighth-wicket stand of 56 between Southee and Doug Bracewell.

Southee defiantly hooked fast bowler Steven Finn for six. But on 24 he was dropped by Jonathan Trott at slip off Swann. Next ball Southee hoicked Swann for six.

Bracewell joined in by cover-driving Finn for four and pulling him for six to bring up a fifty partnership with Southee in just 35 balls.

But Swann had his fifth wicket of the innings, and ninth of the match, when Southee, on 38, edged to slip and this time time Trott held the catch.

When rain forced an early lunch, New Zealand were 219 for eight.

England’s Alastair Cook leaves the field as rain falls during the fifth day’s play in the second Test against New Zealand at Headingley in Leeds, on May 28, 2013. England have won the second and final Test against New Zealand by 247 runs at Headingley, to clinch a 2-0 series win.

Play resumed at 3pm local time (1400GMT), albeit under leaden skies and with drizzle falling.

Bracewell was out soon afterwards, well caught at silly point by Ian Bell off Swann to leave New Zealand on the brink of defeat.

Number 11 Trent Boult gamely made a 26-minute nought before he was last man out, caught behind off paceman James Anderson’s third ball Tuesday

The scale of the task confronting New Zealand was that were asked to make 50 more than the Test record fourth innings victory total of 418 for seven posted by the West Indies against Australia in Antigua in 2002/03.

England’s first innings 354 featured Joe Root’s 104, the Yorkshire batsman scoring his maiden Test century on his home ground.

In reply, New Zealand made 174, with Swann taking four for 42.

But although England captain Alastair Cook was in a position to enforce the follow-on Sunday, as New Zealand were not within 150 of the hosts’ total following Friday’s first day washout , he decided to bat again.

Left-handed opener Cook extended his own England Test century record to 25 on Monday with an innings of 130 — seven of those centuries coming in the 11 matches since he became captain — before declaring at 287 for five after lunch on Monday.