Graeme Swann finished with 10 wickets in a Test for the third time as England dodged the Headingley showers on day five to wrap up a 2-0 Investec Series triumph over New Zealand.
Swann returned to England’s five-day side at the start of this summer following elbow surgery having missed the drawn reverse rubber versus the Black Caps.
He did not take a wicket in the hosts’ 170-run triumph at Lord’s, yet claimed five-day-best match figures of 10-132 to help seal a 247-run win in Leeds.
With Australia’s batting line-up featuring several left-handers, Swann is understandably seen as a key man for the Ashes later this summer.
After taking four wickets in New Zealand’s first innings at Leeds, he claimed to have felt similar to “18 months ago” when bowling.
That certainly appeared the case in the second innings, Swann the leading light with 6-90 as New Zealand were dismissed for 220.
Much of England’s work had already been done heading into this morning, at which point the Kiwis were 158 for six.
Yet a poor weather forecast meant nervous looks to the heavens were a feature of what proved a frustrating but ultimately rewarding day for England.
It started with a 40-minute delay, at the end of which Stuart Broad quickly got rid of New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum for the fourth time in the series.
McCullum has struggled against the paceman nipping the ball away; however, that could not be blamed today as he got a leading edge to a full-toss. Broad, reacting impressively given his 6ft 5ins frame, dived to accept a fine low catch.
Tim Southee and Doug Bracewell briefly entertained thereafter, the former hooking and slog-sweeping sixes in a 35-ball, 56-run stand.
But as Cook et al’s frustration grew, Swann intervened when having Southee taken well at first slip by Jonathan Trott.
Annoyingly and perhaps predictably, with England seemingly on the brink of a triumph, the heavens then opened again to prompt a 110-minute delay after an early lunch was taken.
Swann quickly moved the home side a step closer when play resumed, becoming the first tweaker to claim 10 wickets in a Headingley Test since Derek Underwood did so against Australia in 1972.
Bracewell – who also produced a couple of lusty blows in an entertaining 19 – was the man to go, offering a bat-pad chance to silly point, where Ian Bell claimed a sharp chance.
Swann – whose 10-for was his first in a five-day match on home soil – did not claim the final wicket, but would surely have not minded it going to good friend James Anderson.
In having Trent Boult caught behind, the Lancastrian equalled the great Fred Trueman on 307 Test wickets – something he will have relished given it came on a ground so synonymous with the Yorkshireman.
Afternoon Session
3:37pm - WICKET! Boult c Prior b Anderson 0; England win by 247 runs - An excellent bowling change from Alastair Cook, who brings on James Anderson. The Lancastrian has Boult caught behind to equal Fred Trueman's tally of 307 Test scalps, dismiss New Zealand for 220 and seal a 2-0 Investec series win for England.
3:26pm - There is still some inclement weather around, with Neil Wagner and Trent Boult blocking and opting not to take singles.
3:11pm - WICKET! Bracewell c Bell b Swann 19; New Zealand 220/9 - He's got him now, but Swann might want to buy Ian Bell a pint tonight. Bracewell prods forward and offers a bat-pad chance to silly-point, where the sharp fielder takes a wonderful low catch.
3:03pm - REVIEW! - England thought they had another as Graeme Swann ripped one past Doug Bracewell's inside edge. Umpire Steve Davis raised the finger for a catch at short leg after the ball ricocheted off Matt Prior's glove, but the batsman rightly sent it upstairs.
2:58pm - Here we go then. Everybody is back in the middle and we're about to get under way again.
2:34pm - Play to resume at 3pm - Hurrah! Good news. The covers are coming off as we speak and the players will be back on the field soon all being well. England just need enough time to claim the final two wickets.
2:22pm - Some rain-clearing efforts are going on, yet it appears to still be drizzling. The frustration goes on I am afraid.
1:41pm - There is little activity at the moment as light rain continues to fall and the covers remain on.
1:20pm - The rain appears to have stopped, but there are still covers on and surrounding the square.
Morning Session
12:33pm - RAIN STOPS PLAY - LUNCH - New Zealand 219/8; Bracewell 19, Wagner 0 - Well, well, well. Here comes the rain again, but it's been a handy 45 minutes for England, who are two steps closer to victory. And it's lunch.
12:28pm - WICKET! Southee c Trott b Swann 38; New Zealand 218/8 - The fun ends. After another few boundaries - including Bracewell hooking Finn for six - move the partnership beyond 50, Southee edges Swann to first slip and Trott takes a smart catch.
12:23pm - DROPPED CHANCE! - Well, it's all getting a little frustrating for England now. Southee hooks Steven Finn, on as Broad has left the field, for six and cuts Swann for four. The off-spinner's frustration is added to as Jonathan Trott drops an extremely difficult one-handed chance at slip and Southee then slog-sweeps another maximum.
12:12pm - It seems Tim Southee and Doug Bracewell have shelved a defensive approach in favour of playing some shots. The former punches Broad down the ground for four before the latter finds his first boundary with a cover drive off Swann.
11:59pm - WICKET! McCullum c & b Broad 1; New Zealand 161/7 - The delivery was hardly deserving of the wicket, but the catch certainly was. Broad sends down a low full-toss, Brendon McCullum hits it powerfully straight and the bowler dives low and snaffles it brilliantly.
11:51pm - Graeme Swann bowls the final two deliveries of his 22nd over before Stuart Broad concedes two at the other end, not that runs are an issue.
Pre-Play News
11:44am - Here we go then! Brendon McCullum and Tim Southee are in the middle alongside England's fielders.
11:23am - Play to begin at 11:45am - Yes, it's cleared up sufficiently for us to hopefully commence day five. Fingers crossed that no more rain falls.
11:09am - Those covers and the main one are now off, with the groundstaff sweeping the pitch. The aforementioned inspection should go ahead as planned and, provided there is no further rain, we could start soon.
10:54am - You may want to take your time reading that as further covers are being brought on. It's going to be one of those days, I fear.
10:50am - And some clarity: there will be a further inspection at 11:20pm. In the meantime, why not catch up on yesterday's action?
10:40am - DELAYED START! - Only the pitch cover is on at the moment, but we will not start on time. There's no word as of yet what the situation is, although the umpires are inspecting conditions.
10:30am - Hello and welcome to ecb.co.uk's live coverage of the final day between England and New Zealand at Headingley. The hosts need just four wickets to win the second Investec Test, and the series 2-0, and covers are being removed as I speak.