Tags:
Journalism of Courage
LONDON, Aug 20: Struggling England looked to captain Nasser Hussain to bat them back into contention in the series decider against New Zealand at The Oval today. Hussain, back after missing the Old Trafford Test with a broken finger, led from the front with an unbeaten 35 as England reached tea on 84 for three in their first innings.
But after taking the wickets of Mike Atherton, new boyd Arren Maddy and Graham Thorpe before England reached 50, New Zealand were bossing day two, with Daniel Vettori the star.
The Kiwis added 66 in just under even time 8212; Vettori hitting 51 from 48 balls 8212; to swell their first innings to 236, a score which took on greater stature when England suffered their triple loss.
Vettori8217;s arm ball deceived Maddy 14 and bowled the Leicestershire batsman playing no stroke. That came in between the departure of Atherton 10 and Thorpe 10, both taken first at slip by New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming to enhance the value of his marathon 66 n.o.
Atherton pushed a long way forward to Dion Nash but could not cover the movement, and Thorpe was undone by Cairns8217; extra bounce to worsen his unproductive series.
At that stage, 46 for three, England were facing the prospect of conceding a first innings deficit for the 14th succesive Test.
But Alec Stewart batting 10 was content to play a supporting role to Hussain and took England to tea without further setback.
The four-Test series is currently tied 1-1.
Scoreboard
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 O8217;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 Vettori 14, Nasser Hussain batting 37, Graham Thorpe c Fleming b Cairns 10, Alec Stewart batting 10; Extras: nb3 3. Total for three wickets 84
Fall of wickets: 1-25, 2-29, 3-46
Bowling: Cairns 11-5-19-1, Nash 9-4-20-1, O8217;Connor 7-1-24-0, Vettori 16-5-21-1, Astle 1-1-0-0.
