Panesar's six-wicket haul lifts England

Manchester: Monty Panesar took six New Zealand wickets to lead England's fight back in the second Test that leaves the hosts within 218 runs of victory with nine wickets left.

The left-arm finger spinner took 6-37 in 17 overs, including his 100th Test dismissal, to help bowl out the Kiwis for 114 in their second innings on the third day at Old Trafford.

Set 294 to win, England reached 76-1 with Andrew Strauss on 27 and captain Michael Vaughan on 12 before bad light ended play early.

Alastair Cook was caught by James Marshall at short leg off Daniel Vettori for 28 with England on 60.

"Our aim was to get a chance of winning this Test match and we knew we had to bowl them out today," Panesar said. "For us to turn it around and end on a positive note today is good for us.

"If we continue in the same vain, hopefully we can knock these runs off, but we're aware it's a tough pitch."

In the morning session, Vettori, also a left-arm finger spinner, took his second straight five-wicket haul as England lost six batsmen for only 50 runs - with a trio of catches by Ross Taylor - to be all out for 202 and only just narrowly avoid the follow-on.

Taylor first caught Kevin Pietersen at slip for 26 and ended Ian Bell's innings for 8 after juggling the catch. Paul Collingwood scored 2 before being given out lbw after being struck on his back leg, while Taylor caught wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose at slip for 3.

Wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum dived at full stretch to spectacularly catch Panesar for 1. Stuart Broad then scored the two runs to avoid the follow-on before he was out for 30 after being caught at extra cover by substitute Jeetan Patel.

The tourists went to lunch 180 ahead, but wickets tumbled throughout the afternoon as Panesar excelled at the Manchester ground where he took his first 10-wicket haul, against West Indies in 2007.

Aaron Redmond was removed for 6 when caught by Collingwood at gully off James Anderson, while Jamie How was Panesar's first wicket, out lbw for 29 and New Zealand was 50-2

With New Zealand on 85-2, Panesar had Marshall (28), McCullum (0) and Taylor (15) out leg-before-wicket, and Vettori (4) caught by Broad for the loss of seven runs.

Panesar claimed two wickets in his 25th over when he got rid of Marshall and McCullum. He then dismissed Vettori and Taylor, who was his 100th Test wicket.

England's attack didn't relent after tea with Ambrose catching Jacob Oram for 4 and Panesar bagging a sixth wicket when Ambrose caught Kyle Mills for 8. Ryan Sidebottom finished with 2-26 off 12.2 overs

Daniel Flynn didn't bat again after losing teeth on Friday from a bouncer by Anderson.

New Zealand fast bowler Ian O'Brien believes his team can still win the Test.

"We're certainly out in front, there's a lot of confidence," he said. "No team has scored more than 231 to win a Test here, so it's going to be hell of chase if they get it - we'll come out of it all right.

"There is a good mood in the dressing room. Sixteen wickets fell today, so we have to be confident it will be the same tomorrow."