Kiwis in control

LONDON, AUG 20: Daniel Vettori propped up New Zealand's innings with a gallant 51 and then took two key wickets today as the Kiwis regain...

LONDON, AUG 20: Daniel Vettori propped up New Zealand’s innings with a gallant 51 and then took two key wickets today as the Kiwis regained control of the fourth and deciding cricket Test against England at The Oval.

At stumps on the second day England were 150 for seven, still 86 runs behind New Zealand’s first innings total of 236.

Mark Ramprakash was batting on 30 and tail-ender Alan Mullally was unbeaten on two.

Story continues below this ad

Chris Cairns was the main strike bowler for New Zealand, dismissing No. 4 Graham Thorpe in the afternoon session and adding the wickets of England skipper Nasser Hussain (40) and Ronnie Irani (1) after tea.

Cairns finished with figures of three for 30 off 16 overs, while Vettori returned 2-44 off 31 overs.

New Zealand resumed today at 170 for eight with skipper Stephen Fleming unbeaten on 52 and Vettori not out on 7. The pair put on 78 for the ninth wicket before Vettori was out to Phil Tufnell with the total on 235.

Fleming, who survived a torrid opening over when he was struck on theleft shoulder by a sharply-rising ball from Caddick and required on-field medical assistance, remained unbeaten 66 when Andy Caddick dismissed last man Shayne O’Connor for one. The four-Test series is currently tied 1-1.

SCOREBOARD

Story continues below this ad

New Zealand (1st innings; overnight 170-8): Matt Horne c Caddick b Irani 15, Matthew Bell c Stewart b Mullally 23, Stephen Fleming not out 66, Nathan Astle c Stewart b Caddick 9, Roger Twose c Maddy b Giddins 1, Craig McMillan b Tufnell 19, Adam Parore c Ramprakash b Tufnell 0, Chris Cairns b Mullally 11, Dion Nash c Ramprakash b Caddick 18, Daniel Vettori lbw b Tufnell 51, Shayne O’Connor lbw b Caddick 1; Extras: (b9, lb9, w2, nb2) 22. Total: (all out 102.1 overs) 236

Fall of wickets: 1-39, 2-45, 3-54, 4-62, 5-87, 6-87,7-104, 8-157, 9-235, 10-236

Bowling: Caddick 33.1-17-66-3, Mullally 26-12-34-2, Giddins 16-4-41-1, Tufnell 16-3-39-3, Irani 11-3-38-1

England (1st innings): Mike Atherton c Fleming b Nash 10 Darren Maddy b Vettori14 Nasser Hussain c Bell b Cairns 40 Graham Thorpe c Fleming b Cairns 10 Alec Stewart b Vettori 11 Mark Ramprakash not out 30 Ronnie Irani lbw Cairns 1 Andy Caddick b O’Connor 15 Alan Mullally not out 2. Extras (b1, lb5, w5, nb6): 17. Total (for seven wickets): 150

Story continues below this ad

Fall of wickets: 1-25 2-29 3-46 4-87 5-91 6-94 7-141

Bowling: Cairns 16-6-30-3, Nash 14-5-40-1, O’Connor 13-3-30-1, Vettori 31-11-44-2, Astle 1-1-0-0.