Cricket: It all goes to script for skipper

5.00am - By MARK GEENTY

NOTTINGHAM - Stephen Fleming vowed to score a century for his mate Chris Cairns and it all fell into place in the third test against England yesterday.

Fleming dedicated his seventh test ton to Cairns, who spent the day on the Trent Bridge players' balcony as New Zealand reached 295 for four.

After reaching three figures, Fleming directed a prolonged salute to the pavilion and pretended to break his bat across his knee.

"I'm not sure what I was doing, to be honest. Just getting there was exciting," he said. "Obviously it was for friends and family, [partner] Kelly, but Chris Cairns is one person I singled out in this test.

"He's a very good mate and I want to see him off in the right way."

New Zealand trail 2-0 in the series, and Fleming said the pre-match talk revolved around a memorable win to farewell Cairns in his 62nd and final test.

"There's a lot to play for and we've got a number of motivating factors. It's Chris' last game, it's certainly emotional for guys who've played a lot with him."

Fleming, who had several let-offs from leg-before appeals, rated his innings of 117 as inferior to his 97 on the dicey pitch in the second test at Headingley.

"There's 20 runs difference between the two, but compared to how hard I had to work at Headingley it doesn't even compare."

It could have been far better for New Zealand who, from 272 for two, lost wickets in consecutive balls to speedster Stephen Harmison - Nathan Astle for 15 and Craig McMillan leg-before first ball.

The tourists will need a big score because their bowling attack is without Daniel Vettori, still limping heavily with a strained hamstring.

On a dry pitch which could deteriorate on days four and five, New Zealand will be wringing their hands at his absence.

"Of course they'll miss him, he's one of their key men," said Vettori's opposite number, Ashley Giles, who removed Mark Richardson for 73.

"He's someone who can hold an end up, there's a bit of rough there and they are going to miss a spinner.

"You can see from how flat the wicket is. If it stays that way it will be very hard work for the New Zealand seam attack.

"We're well in the match. The first two wickets weren't as good as this one. They were in a strong position last week and they'll be aware of losing that match from there."

Without a back-up spinner in their squad of 14, and not enough time to fly in a replacement from New Zealand, the tourists were forced to pick five pacemen here.

Fleming and Richardson put on 163 for the first wicket as Harmison caused early problems, but the pitch was too good to cause any great alarm.

Giles broke the partnership in the 52nd over when Richardson was caught while trying to raise the scoring rate.

Scott Styris was promoted to No 3, having scored just 44 runs from four innings in a rare batting crisis. Ever-confident, he played his shots and, after some superb timing, reached his first 50 of the series off 86 balls.

He hit nine fours to be 68 not out at stumps.

- NZPA