Cricket: NZ bowlers strike early but Strauss defies again

12.00am

New Zealand struck two decisive early blows but England's debut opener Andrew Strauss continued to defy them early on a tense final day of the first cricket test at Lord's in London today.

An enthralling match remained in the balance at lunch on the final day with England 87 for two, needing another 195 in two sessions to reach their target of 282 to win.

New Zealand pacemen Daryl Tuffey and Chris Martin took the key early wickets of captain Marcus Trescothick and Mark Butcher in the first hour but Strauss, fresh from his 112 in his debut innings, racked up another unbeaten half-century.

Strauss reached 50 off 97 balls just before lunch with his eighth boundary, having just edged Scott Styris past first slip.

England began the day needing another 274 from a minimum of 90 overs at a run rate of 3.04, but Tuffey struck early for New Zealand, clinging on to a sharp return catch in the day's fifth over to remove Trescothick for two.

Martin then struck with his third ball as Butcher was snapped up by captain Stephen Fleming at first slip to reduce England to 35 for two.

It was an inspired bowling change by Fleming after Jacob Oram was preferred with the new ball and Martin had to wait until the 19th over for his chance. Butcher, on six, cut at Martin and Fleming held the high chance safely.

Butcher should have been out in the previous over when a confident appeal for a bat pad catch from spinner Daniel Vettori was turned down by umpire Rudi Koertzen.

Replays showed the ball brushed his glove as Mark Richardson held the catch at short leg.

Tuffey took one for 13 in a five-over morning spell before being replaced by Vettori, who was beginning to cause problems from the Nursery End into the bowler's footmarks.

One delivery bounced at Strauss who attempted a sweep, but the ball cracked him on the helmet and ended up inside the visor.

Vettori watched as several deliveries looped just out of reach of the fielders and ended an accurate first session with figures of no wicket for 25 off 10 overs.

Strauss and Nasser Hussain put on an unbroken partnership of 52 for the third wicket, with Strauss on 52 and Hussain on 15.

England were seeking to make history with their highest successful run chase at Lord's.

Their only other winning pursuit of more than 200 was against New Zealand in 1965 when they reached 216 to win by seven wickets.

New Zealand

First innings 386

Second innings 336

England

First innings 441

Second innings (8-0 overnight)

M Trescothick c and b Tuffey 2

A Strauss not out 52

M Butcher c Fleming b Martin 6

N Hussain not out 15

Extras (4b, 3lb, 5nb) 12

Total (for 2 wkts, 33 overs) 87

Fall: 18 (Trescothick), 35 (Butcher).

Bowling: J Oram 8-3-11-0 (2nb), D Tuffey 7-3-18-1, D Vettori 10-3-25-0, C Martin 5-1-18-1 (2nb), S Styris 3-2-8-0 (1nb).

- NZPA