Former England captain Nasser Hussain stroked his 14th Test century to guide the hosts to an ultimately untroubled seven-wicket win over New Zealand in the first Test at Lord’s on Monday. Hussain atoned for an inexplicable error of judgment when he ran out Andrew Strauss for 83 to score an unbeaten 103 in England’s total of 282-3, which gave them a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. He was partnered in an unbeaten fourth-wicket partnership of 139 by England’s other most experienced batsman, Graham Thorpe, who scored 51 not out, his 35th Test half-century. The victory, with eight overs to spare, was only the third by a side chasing more than 200 to win a Test at Lord’s and represented a fourth win in five matches for England after their recent 3-0 victory in West Indies. There was only one sour note for the home side on a fifth consecutive sunny day, with the needless runout that denied Strauss the chance to make history by becoming the first England player to score a century in each innings on his debut. Strauss departed disconsolately when Hussain called him for an impossible single after dabbing the ball into the covers. The Middlesex opener, who was named man-of-the-match, scored 112 in the first innings to become only the second Englishman to score a debut century at cricket’s headquarters. The pair added 108 for the third wicket after England had lost acting captain Marcus Trescothick (2) and Mark Butcher (6) in the morning session. Strauss belatedly set off but never had any chance of making his ground as Chris Cairns raced in from cover and lobbed the ball to wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum. The opener had stroked 13 fours from 171 deliveries in another composed, mature innings featuring some excellent cover-driving. Hussain, who should earn a coveted 100th Test cap this year, battled with his usual grim determination at the start, using his feet well to Vettori to drive through the covers and sweeping to good effect. His second Test century against New Zealand and third at Lord’s contained 15 fours and was scored off 204 balls Brief scores New Zealand: 386 and 336 vs England: 441 and 282-3 (A Strauss 83, N Hussain 103 n.o., G Thorpe 51 n.o.)
