Cricket: Cairns hits world six record to rescue NZ

11.00pm

Chris Cairns marked his test farewell to Lord's with one his most memorable batting assaults, claiming the world record for most sixes, as New Zealand were dismissed for 386 by England in the first cricket test here today.

The star New Zealand allrounder bludgeoned 82 off 47 balls, including 10 fours and four sixes, as he passed West Indian Viv Richards' test six-hitting record of 84.

He departed to a standing ovation by the Lord's crowd of 20,000, stunned by his 62-minute onslaught.

Cairns sat on 82 career sixes going into this match and topped the record with consecutive blows over mid-wicket and cover off England's Andrew Flintoff.

He lost his wicket later in the same over, skying a catch to Stephen Harmison at fine leg as New Zealand added 102 to their overnight score in a dizzying 14 overs on an otherwise gloomy London morning.

New Zealand needed Cairns' heroics after losing Jacob Oram in the day's second over for 67, then losing Daryl Tuffey, Brendon McCullum and Daniel Vettori in the space of 14 balls.

Oram added just three to his overnight score before being caught behind off Harmison, ending a bright 126-minute, 82-ball knock.

Cairns and night watchman Tuffey added 37 off 35 balls before Cairns was forced into all-out offence when No 11 Chris Martin walked out at 338 for nine.

The pair added 48 off 28 balls for the 10th wicket, Martin's contribution one not out off six balls in 22 minutes as Cairns farmed the strike expertly.

Cairns reached 50 off 37 balls, with his most memorable shot a six off Harmison over cover, off middle stump.

The record came when he walked outside off stump and slammed Flintoff over two fielders coverging at mid-wicket, then next ball hit inside out over the cover fence.

Fast bowler Harmison did the early damage for England with three wickets today to end with four for 126 off 31 overs.

New Zealand

First innings (284-5 overnight)

M Richardson lbw b Harmison 93

S Fleming c Strauss b S Jones 34

N Astle c G Jones b Flintoff 64

S Styris c G Jones b S Jones 0

C McMillan lbw b Hoggard 6

J Oram c G Jones b Harmison 67

D Tuffey b Harmison 8

C Cairns c Harmison b Flintoff 82

B McCullum b S Jones 5

D Vettori b Harmison 2

C Martin not out 1

Extras (9b, 6lb, 2w, 7nb) 24

Total (102.4 overs) 386

Fall: 58 (Fleming), 161 (Astle), 162 (Styris), 174 (McMillan), 280 (Richardson), 287 (Oram), 324 (Tuffey), 329 (McCullum), 338 (Vettori), 386 (Cairns).

Bowling: M Hoggard 22-7-68-1 (3nb, 1w), S Harmison 31-7-126-4, A Flintoff 21.4-7-63-2 (2nb), S Jones 23-8-82-3 (2nb), A Giles 5-0-32-0 (1w).

- NZPA