A SECOND successive Test century by Graham Thorpe helped England build a 226 run first innings lead in the second Test at Wellington early this morning.
But the loss of Thorpe for 108, John Crawley for 56 and Robert Croft for nought all with the total 331 slowed England's victory drive.
At tea England were 350 for seven, Thorpe and Crawley having added 118 in a three hour stand that gave Mike Atherton's side total control.
Thorpe completed his hundred with a two nudged off his hip off Daniel Vettori, and Crawley was soon past his half century, from 119 balls.
But, when Thorpe had reached 108, he advanced down the pitch to Dipak Patel looking to attack, was beaten by the turn and stumped by wicket keeper Lee Germon.
He had batted for five and a half hours, facing 249 balls and striking 12 fours. His fifth wicket partnership with Crawley, now joined by Damien Cork with England 331 for five was 118.
But Crawley had not added to his 56 when, fencing at a widish ball from Simon Doull, he was caught at the wicket by Germon and England were 331 for six.
But then Nasser Hussain, after reaching 64 with a delicately played sweep, was beaten in the flight by Vettori's next ball and taken at slip by Bryan Young when the edge flew through off Germon's right pad.
The bespectacled student Vettori, New Zealand's youngest Test player, was understandably ecstatic but that was all the Kiwis had to celebrate as Thorpe and Crawley began to grind out the big lead that was England's first target in their victory drive.
Robert Croft became the third batsman out with the total 331 as England lost a lot of their momentum in mid afternoon.
Croft departed fourth ball for nought, beaten off the pitch by Doull and caught at first slip by Stephen Fleming.
Cork and Darren Gough, however, took England to 350 for seven by tea.
Meanwhile, Geoff Allott was accused of an illegal practice while bowling with the new ball in this Test.
Sky Television commentators, led by former England paceman Paul Allott and including Ian Botham, said he was illegally lifting off the seam when pictures showed the left arm fast bowler digging his nails into the ball and moving his fingers across the stitches.
Match referee Peter Burge, however, said that umpires Steve Bucknor and Doug Cowie had not mentioned it and, of course, bowlers are perfectly entitled to clean the seam of any dirt or that might be caught in it.
Former Lancashire bowler Allott said on air of his namesake: "That's illegal. You're not allowed to do that and it's also very naive."
. Zimbabwe came back from the brink of disaster to score a sensational three wicket win in the one day international against India in Pretoria yesterday.
A swashbuckling nine runs from Heath Streak from four of the final six balls gave Zimbabawe their first win in 14 meetings with India. Before the rain cut the triangular series game to 34 overs, Zimbabwe had restricted India to 216 from 48.4 overs, giving them an initial target of 4.34 an over.
This was stepped up substantially to 5.02 per over a target of 171 through the inclement weather. Craig Evans and Paul Strang came to the crease with Zimababwe reeling at 79 for six and put together a partnership of 71 to set the stage for a thrilling finish.
