Monty Panesar produced his best Test bowling figures of 6-37 as England fought back on an intriguing third day against New Zealand at Old Trafford.

They appeared to have no hope at all after losing their last six wickets for 50 to concede a first innings lead of 179, as Daniel Vettori claimed 5-66.

But Panesar struck twice in an over and reached 100 victims in his 28th Test as the Kiwis stumbled to 114 in reply.

Facing a target of 294, England lost Alastair Cook but were 76-1 at stumps.

Jacob Oram hit a resilient 101 as New Zealand frustrated England to secure a draw in the first Test at Lord's.

The all-rounder's 120-ball 101 featured 15 fours and two sixes, helping the tourists towards a 227-run lead when poor light ended play at 1700 BST.

Oram came in when Brendon McCullum was forced to retire hurt with his side in trouble with four wickets down.

With England aiming for an unlikely win after three rain-affected days, Jamie How (68) and then Oram stood firm.

Matthew Hoggard has been left out of England's team for the first Test against New Zealand at Lord's, which starts on Thursday.

England have chosen to keep faith with the players who fought back to win the series between the two sides earlier this year in New Zealand.

James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Ryan Sidebottom will lead the pace attack

Hope this lovely weather persists past next Thursday,when the first test is due to start against NZ from LORDS!

Yorkshire cruise past Cup holders FP TROPHY NORTH
Headingley Carnegie: Yorkshire 186-5 beat Durham 185 by five wickets
Match scorecard Gerard Brophy watches as Ben Harmison's lofts a catch

Darren Gough rolled back the years by dismissing three current international batsmen as Yorkshire beat Durham in the Friends Provident Trophy at Headingley.

Gough removed Phil Mustard(26), Paul Collingwood (2) and Neil McKenzie (1) in figures of 3-31 as Durham were bowled out for 185 in the 46th over.

Steve Harmison took three wickets but Durham the Cup holders crashed to defeat, their third in four matches.

Michael Vaughan (22) prodded a short ball off Graham Onions to cover point.

The England Test captain perished when well set for the fifth time in as many innings for his county.

And he does not have any further opportunity to find form ahead of the npower Test series against New Zealand.

He has managed 95 runs in three Championship innings and 38 in two one-day matches for Yorkshire.

Left-hander Andrew Gale's high octane 68 was the key performance from the Yorkshire batsmen.

He was particularly severe on England discard Harmison, whose opening two overs cost 22 runs.

Harmison, who on Sunday said he would retire the day he believed the international door was closed to him, hit back with late wickets.

But the damage was already done.

Durham's best batsman had been Kyle Coetze, whose classy effort of 61 included a lofted straight six off Tim Bresnan.