England openers control Lord's test

By John Mehaffey

LONDON (Reuters) - Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook shared a sprightly unbeaten opening partnership to swing the first test in England's favour against New Zealand at Lord's on Friday.

When bad light stopped play for the fifth and final time on the second day, the pair had taken their side to 68 without loss in reply to New Zealand's 277.

Cook showed a particularly good touch to reach 43 while Strauss was on 24. The two left-handers put on 30 in five overs after tea and kept the scoreboard moving with a series of sharp singles.

Earlier, Ryan Sidebottom, who failed to take a wicket on Thursday, recaptured his line and length from the Pavilion End, moving the ball late into the right-handers to take four for five from 10.1 overs and four for 55 for the innings. His last three victims were all clean bowled.

MORE RELAXED

"I was bitterly disappointed with my performance yesterday," Sidebottom told a news conference. "I felt New Zealand got 50 runs too many in hindsight.

"I was probably a bit more relaxed today and I just got into my rhythm a bit more."

New Zealand were determined to consolidate after Brendon McCullum's run-a-ball 97 pulled them back from the brink on Thursday.