England make heavy weather

MANCHESTER, AUG 5: Recalled Mike Atherton produced three scoring strokes in an hour as England battled through to lunch at 33 for one in the delayed third Test against New Zealand at Old Trafford today. Play in the afternoon session was halted with England 56 for two. Captain Mark Butcher (5) and Alec Stewart (23) were the men out. Stewart was eight not out and Atherton six at the interval which came an hour after the noon start of play, delayed by 60 minutes due to rain. Stewart had taken 24 balls to get off the mark as Cairns posed him problem after problem until he scored consecutive fours, with a glance and square cut, before Cairns almost got him.After winning the toss, Butcher (5) was undone by a rising ball from Cairns which ended up in the safe hands of New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming at first slip. Stewart was adjudged caught behind off Dion Nash for 23.