Cricket: NZ confident going into final day cliffhanger

1.00pm - By MARK GEENTY

LONDON - New Zealand's cricketers feel the first test is theirs to win against England as a memorable match sits poised for an epic finish on the final day at Lord's.

For a fourth consecutive day the honours were too close to call as England were eight without loss in their second innings, needing another 276 in 90 overs tomorrow to go 1-0 up in the series.

New Zealand's hopes rest with their four-strong seam attack who struggled to make inroads in the first innings, and most importantly the left-arm spin of Daniel Vettori on a dry, deteriorating Lord's pitch.

"We feel 280 on the last day at three an over on a wicket that's a little up and down is a tall order," New Zealand's hero Mark Richardson said after celebrating his second innings 101 to go with 93 in the first innings.

"We have to show faith in our bowling, and faith that wicket has 10 wickets in it.

"Right now the initiative's with us, but if you wanted to put a bet on you'd have to do it every hour."

Richardson's heroic 101, his fourth test century in 435 minutes and 309 balls, was the anchor New Zealand badly needed in their second innings of 336 as the middle order collapsed again.

He and Brendon McCullum, who cruelly fell short of a maiden test century for 96, added 173 for the second wicket but afterwards the tourists never quite seized the control they should have.

England meanwhile claimed the momentum was with them, after first innings centurymaker Andrew Strauss and stand-in captain Marcus Trescothick survived five overs from Jacob Oram, Daryl Tuffey and Vettori.

"If we bat all day we should win the game," England fast bowler Stephen Harmison said after taking four for 76 to give him eight for the match.

"The ball's in our court. The key is to be positive, and if we bat for long periods we win."

Vettori will be the man for New Zealand despite his modest recent success, having shown glimpses of form in the first innings for his two for 69.

England left-armer Ashley Giles bowled almost unchanged throughout today, removing Scott Styris and Craig McMillan in the space of three balls and ending with three for 87 off 39 overs.

"Dan's going to be crucial and he's overdue for a good day. There's enough rough there, especially at the Nursery End for him to pick up some wickets," said Richardson.

"At least, he should be able to tie up an end as the wicket gets more variable for the seamers."

Poised just 28 short of his maiden test century overnight, McCullum felt the nervous 90s as England's best bowler Simon Jones worked him over then found the edge to end a 219-minute, 162-ball knock including 14 fours.

With Styris, McMillan and Jacob Oram departing quickly, Richardson was immovable, leaving the ball expertly and only hitting 10 boundaries but never giving the bowlers a look at his wicket.

On 99, Giles sent down four dot balls before Richardson turned the fifth behind square, racing through for the single then punching the air and raising his arms to the pavilion.

His century came up in 401 minutes, off 289 balls, but he succumbed to near exhaustion after tea.

Richardson and Nathan Astle departed within two overs of each other as Harmison nicked them out on the drive -- Richardson ending 13-1/2 hours at the crease at his first visit to Lord's and Astle an invaluable 49 from No 7 despite suffering from flu.

Stand-in captain Marcus Trescothick oddly preferred Giles to his pacemen and refused to take the second new ball.

Chris Cairns couldn't repeat his power hitting display of Friday, caught on the boundary for 14, but last pair Daryl Tuffey and Chris Martin held out for 37 minutes and 26 runs.

Tuffey was dropped on four by gloveman Geraint Jones, going for his fifth catch, which cost England a valuable 18 runs.

- NZPA