Cricket: Vettori back on top in run-up match before second test

LEICESTER - New Zealand spinner Daniel Vettori got the confidence boost he needed before the second cricket test as another hot and cold bowling effort from the tourists still accounted for Leicestershire.

Vettori's four for 60 from 20 overs was his best return of the England tour and with Chris Cairns' four for 48 ensured the hosts were skittled for 210 on the second day of their four-day tour match.

It gave New Zealand a first innings lead of 203 and they chose not to enforce the follow-on, with openers Stephen Fleming and Michael Papps seeing off six overs before stumps to be 13 without loss.

For Vettori it was some consolation after his fifth day Lord's nightmare, when luck deserted him and he went wicketless for 25 useful overs as England went 1-0 up in the series.

"I've bowled better on tour but the results have come this time," he said.

New Zealand will need much improved bowling to take 20 wickets in the second test at Headingley in Leeds starting on Thursday.

Although Headingley is a renowned seam bowlers' haven, Vettori warned he shouldn't be written off at his first visit to the ground.

" ... There are spinners that have done well there. Sometimes it can be a myth it's going to be a green seamer.

"Overhead conditions tend to make the ball talk a little so if they're not there I expect I'll have a reasonable job to do."

Vettori turned the ball generously on the slow Grace Road surface, bowled unchanged from the pavilion end in the afternoon, and bagged his fourth victim when tailender Charles Dagnall hit straight to replacement fielder Daryl Tuffey at cover.

Cairns bowled an excellent second spell and used the variable bounce to his advantage, removing topscorer John Maunders for 85.

But pacemen Chris Martin and Kyle Mills caused few problems with the new ball. With Tuffey resting it was a chance for Mills to push for a spot in the remaining two tests, but he struggled to get his outswing going and bowled nine wicketless overs for 35.

Martin worked up some pace but still offered too much width, ending with two for 46 off 13 overs. Both were leg before wicket victims, opener Darren Robinson and former England allrounder Jeremy Snape not offering a shot.

Coach John Bracewell said his pacemen needed to master reverse swing in a hurry.

"All the surfaces we've played on so far the ball has reversed quite early and we need to understand that. Our guys traditionally aren't reverse swing bowlers because the Kookaburra ball doesn't go as quickly as this one has been.

"It's something we need to get to grips with quickly."

Wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins had a New Zealand debut to remember, scoring a polished 71 then later being forced from the field after a ball from Vettori cracked him in the mouth in the first over after tea.

Brendon McCullum donned the pads for the rest of the innings.

Hopkins featured in two useful partnerships as the New Zealand lower order contributed once again, 53 with Vettori who scored 31, and 48 with Mills who cracked 42 not out.

It lifted the tourists from 207 for six when Hopkins came to the crease on the first day.

- NZPA