New Zealand suffer another batting collapse

LEEDS: Graeme Swann took four wickets and Steven Finn three as England again exposed New Zealand's batting frailties to threaten another rout in the second and final test at Headingley on Sunday.

One week after being skittled for 68 to lose the first Test by 170 runs at Lord's, the tourists collapsed spectacularly again to be bowled out for 174 in replying to England's 354 on the third day.

England opted not to enforce the follow-on and will start their second innings with a lead of 180. The first day was lost to rain.

The tourists were dismissed in little over one and a half sessions, their score bloated by a belligerent counter-attack from last pair Neil Wagner (27) and Trent Boult (24 not out) who plundered 52 runs.

Swann finished with figures of four for 42 and Finn three for 36.

After wrapping up England's innings by taking three wickets in 24 minutes in the morning session, the tourists lost Peter Fulton (28) and Hamish Rutherford (27) before lunch after a half-century opening stand.

Finn took the first three wickets to fall. Fulton got a leading edge after a promising start and skied a simple chance back to the bowler.

Finn, inconsistent at Lord's despite four wickets in the first innings, struck again when Rutherford, attempting one attacking shot too many, drove uppishly and was caught in the gully by Ian Bell.

With his tail up, the paceman continued his spell after lunch and caught Ross Taylor on the backfoot with a ball that darted in and the batsman chopped on to his stumps to depart for six.

Swann then bowled Dean Brownlie for two with a ball that turned in his first over, the spinner snagging his first Test wicket of the English summer after being utilised for just eight overs at Lord's.

In his next over, Martin Guptill lasted five balls on his return to the test team as he fell in similar vein to Brownlie - bowled by Swann for one through bat and pad. Two balls later Kane Williamson departed lbw for 13 after a review having been given not out.

Brendon McCullum (20) and Tim Southee (19) briefly rallied until the latter was also given out after an lbw review.

Only Stuart Broad appealed as the pair set off for a single but the England bowler was convinced the ball had struck pad before bat and the third umpire agreed.

Swann then got Doug Bracewell (1) to prod to Bell at silly point, McCullum edged Broad behind to Matt Prior before James Anderson extinguished Wagner's fireworks.

England had resumed on 337 for seven but added only 17 runs.

Boult, who removed centurion Joe Root on Saturday in an impressive spell with the second new ball, claimed five for 57 with both he and Southee swinging the ball on another sunny morning.

It was Boult's second five-wicket haul in an innings against England this year after returning test-best figures of six for 68 in the drawn third test in Auckland in March. (Reuters)