Sidebottom does the trick

Ryan Sidebottom traps Jacob Oram leg before to complete his hat-trick © Getty Images

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Watch the end of day report on ECBtv - and see Ryan Sidebottom's post-play press conference

Ryan Sidebottom claimed a memorable hat-trick to lead a thrilling England fightback on the fourth day of the opening Test against New Zealand in Hamilton.

The tourists were second best after conceding a first-innings deficit of 122 and watching New Zealand race to 99 for one early in the evening session as they chased quick runs and a declaration.

But Sidebottom sparked a collapse that saw seven wickets fall for 42 runs, becoming only the 11th Englishman in history to take a Test hat-trick, on the way to figures of 5-37.

He had Stephen Fleming, who looked in imperious form in making 66, superbly held by Alastair Cook at gully off the last ball of his ninth over, and removed Mathew Sinclair and Jacob Oram with the first two deliveries of his 10th.

Amid the mayhem, Monty Panesar accounted for the dangerous Brendon McCullum, and followed up Sidebottom's treble incursion with the wicket of first-innings centurion Ross Taylor and Kyle Mills.

That left New Zealand reeling on 141 for eight, Sidebottom and Panesar, who took 3-33, having altered the complexion of a remarkable contest by raising the possibility of an England triumph.

The hosts added a further six runs to their total before the close, extending their lead to 269.

Such a healthy advantage ensures they will enter the final day as the more likely winners, but the fact that England can even contemplate victory is testament to their exceptional powers of recovery.

Kevin Pietersen helps Sidebottom celebrate his historic feat © Getty Images

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They were bowled out for 348 half an hour after lunch, having taken 39.1 overs to add 62 runs to their overnight total of 268 for six.

Although Sidebottom removed Matthew Bell with the third ball of the New Zealand innings courtesy of a faint edge to a delivery slanted across him, Fleming batted with more fluency than any other player has managed on this turgid surface to dominate a 98-run stand for the second wicket with Jamie How.

Fleming drove authoritatively in racing to a 66-ball half-century that included five fours and a pulled six, but from a position of considerable strength New Zealand went into freefall.

The ever-impressive Sidebottom, who took four wickets in the first innings, was the catalyst.

He removed How courtesy of a stunning leaping catch by Matthew Hoggard at deep midwicket, before Cook repeated his feat from the first innings with a brilliant effort at gully, diving to his left this time, to account for Fleming.

McCullum top-edged a sweep off Panesar - Andrew Strauss made good ground running towards midwicket to cling on to the chance over his shoulder - before Sidebottom reclaimed centre stage.

Sinclair sliced a drive to gully, where Cook took his fifth excellent catch of the match, high to his left, and Oram was trapped lbw on the crease next ball to guarantee Sidebottom his place in history.

Matthew Hoggard leaps high to his left to catch Jamie How off Sidebottom © Getty Images

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Panesar’s dismissal of Taylor, who was beaten in the flight and offered a simple return catch, left New Zealand on 119 for seven, and there was still time for Mills to perish lbw sweeping a ball that pitched in line and straightened.

England’s approach had been almost exclusively centred around survival for much of the day, particularly with the bat.

They adopted the same cautious approach that typified the third day’s play as they extended their marathon innings into the 174th over.

Paul Collingwood, 41 not out overnight, made 66 before he was trapped leg before by an Oram off-cutter, and Tim Ambrose registered an equally resolute half-century on debut.

His was the first of two wickets to fall in as many balls in the first over after lunch, caught at slip for 55 pushing forward at Jeetan Patel, bowling round the wicket.

Steve Harmison diverted an attempted sweep to slip to give Patel figures of 3-107, and Mills finally put the crowd out of their misery by pinning Panesar in front despite a healthy stride.

Sidebottom was left unbeaten on three, having faced 43 deliveries. His refusal to give his wicket away was typical of the spirit he demonstrated with ball in hand to haul England back into contention on a wonderfully unpredictable day.