CRICKET/First Test: Nasser Hussain's brilliant 106, compiled over nearly five and a half hours at the crease, enabled England to reach a respectable 228 against New Zealand in Christchurch yesterday morning.
His century helped the tourists to recover from the sort of start that could have ended any hopes of remaining competitive during the remainder of the Test.
At nought for two with only five balls bowled, the England captain walked out to guide his side towards a respectable total, claiming his 10th Test century in the process, to at least give them a chance of competing with New Zealand for the remaining four days.
That possibility was further enhanced by Matthew Hoggard's breakthrough to remove opener Mark Richardson and leave New Zealand on nine for one at the close of a thrilling opening day to the three-Test series.
"Batting was by no means impossible - it was a bowler-friendly wicket, it's as simple as that," said Hussain afterwards.
"The ball came onto the bat nicely and there were opportunities to hit boundaries, but there were also a large percentage of unplayable balls, so you were never fully in on it because there was always a ball that could just zip and you had to have positive intent."
England won the toss and Hussain wrongly chose to bat. Marcus Trescothick played and missed the first two balls before edging Chris Cairn's third behind to wicketkeeper Adam Parore.
Number three Mark Butcher lasted only two deliveries before giving a leading edge to debutant Ian Butler at mid-off.
Hussain's only reprieve was on 52 when he edged Drum to first slip where fellow captain Stephen Fleming made an uncharacteristic mistake and allowed the ball to slip through his fingers.
ENGLAND (first innings)
M Trescothick c Parore b Cairns 0
M Vaughan c Parore b Cairns 27
M Butcher c Butler b Cairns 0
N Hussain lbw b Drum 106
G Thorpe c Fleming b Drum 17
M Ramprakash c Parore b Astle 31
A Flintoff lbw b Astle 0
J Foster lbw b Drum 19
A Giles c Drum b Butler 8
A Caddick lbw b Butler 0
M Hoggard not out 0
Extras (b1, lb10, nb9) 20
Total 228
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-0, 3-46, 4-83, 5-139, 6-151, 7-196, 8-214, 9-226
Bowling: Cairns 15-4-58-3 (3nb), Drum 20.2-8-36-3, Butler 16-2-59-2 (4nb), Astle 18-10-32-2, Vettori 9-1-26-0 (1nb), McMillan 3-1-6-0 (1nb)
Overs: 81.2
NEW ZEALAND (First innings)
M Richardson lbw b Hoggard 2
M Horne not out 0
D Vettori not out 4
Extras (lb1, nb2) 3
Total (1 wkt) 9
Fall of wicket: 1-4 Bowling: Caddick 3-2-2-0 (1nb), Hoggard 3-1-7-1 (1nb)
Overs: 6
Umpires: Asoka de Silva (Sri) Brent Bowden (Nzl)
Match referee: Jackie Hendriks (Wis)
