Jacob Oram was disappointed New Zealand's bowling attack had not been able to maintain the same level of heat on England yesterday, in more favourable conditions, after their superb first test display at Hamilton.
England got away in the final session yesterday, after being under the hammer in
the middle period, courtesy of an unbroken sixth-wicket stand between wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose and Paul Collingwood, which took them from a dicey 136 for five to 291 for five at stumps.
"We didn't have the same rhythm and consistency as we did in Hamilton. We had better conditions to bowl on here and couldn't produce the same effort," he said last night.
Oram was New Zealand's standout performer, with two for 25 from 22 high class overs. In the series so far, the big allrounder has combined figures of 47-21-54-4, his tightfisted medium pace bowling putting a brake on England's batsmen, and with a cutting edge thrown in as well.
"You do get days like today where the pitch is helping and it's good fun to bowl. You can kind of bowl within yourself knowing the pitch, if you get the ball on some sort of line and length, will help you."
Oram enjoyed his bowling yesterday. He is fit, feeling good and New Zealand's bowling attack is clearly the beneficiary.
He had high praise for Ambrose, who has hit 55 and 97 not out in his first two tests.
"He looks gutsy, looks like he knows his game plan and it puts the icing on the cake if you have someone who knows what he's doing in the lower-middle order."
Oram expects the pitch to help the seamers again today, before turning into a good batting strip on days three and four.
