Andy Caddick has his critics (they usually bang on about his first-innings average of 35), but today he rounded on them with yet another one-man band of a performance. On a wicket that rewarded accuracy, Caddick took 4 for 57 to his colleagues' 1 for 84, and now has 30 first-class wickets on tour, which is two more than everyone else in the squad put together. He hasn't just come to the party - he has invited ten friends in fancy dress and provided all the booze himself. He began his England career as a loner, but now has 200 wickets - 160 more than anyone else in the current squad - and the way he was mobbed when he fell theatrically to his knees after dismissing Craig McMillan said a lot about his standing in the side these days. For the moment, Darren Gough is no longer England's talisman.

Caddick alone of England's three main seamers kept the ball outside off stump. Andrew Flintoff for once strayed onto leg, while Matthew Hoggard dropped too short too often. They allowed a scoreline of 19 for 4 (which looked like game, set and series to England) to balloon to 151 for 5 (which was almost back in the balance).

New Zealand are indebted to Chris Harris, who isn't pretty but frankly doesn't give a damn. Today he stuck to three shots (although it is unclear whether he has any others): the cover-drive, the pull, and the leave-alone, which is the most effective of the three, because it forces bowlers to try other things when they realise that Harris's corridor is anything but uncertain. It was excruciating to watch, and yet compelling at the same time - here was a game-plan carried out to perfection by a man of limited ability.

Harris was helped by the fact that Nasser Hussain wasn't his usual commanding self in the field, which was understandable under the circumstances. Harris's two-footed lunge of a forward defensive cried out for Ashley Giles and some men around the bat. But Hussain turned to Giles only for the last over before tea, and gave him no silly point. Harris duly nicked one into the gap, and although Hussain quickly filled it, he was too late.

England are still on top, but if New Zealand can reach 250 and then take some early wickets, a drawn series is still possible, especially as Daniel Vettori should be bowling last on a pitch that is expected to break up. Doug Cowie's failure to spot the fact that Harris, on 28, gloved Hoggard straight to short leg could yet prove crucial.

Lawrence Booth is assistant editor of Wisden.com.

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