The Hindu : Thorpe, Flintoff delight the Barmy Army

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Mar 16, 2002

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Thorpe, Flintoff delight the Barmy Army

CHRISTCHURCH, MARCH 15. New Zealand was set a daunting 550 runs for victory in the first Test after Graham Thorpe and Andy Flintoff batted England into a winning position here on Friday.

Thorpe blasted an unconquered double-century, Flintoff claimed his maiden Test hundred and both shared a record 281-run sixth-wicket stand to set up an England declaration at 468 for six late on the third day.

At stumps, New Zealand was 28 without loss with Mark Richardson on 20 and Matt Horne not out three. Play was stopped 11 overs before the end of the extended day's play by failing light.

As soon as Thorpe brought up his 200, his highest Test score beating his previous best of 138 against Australia at Edgbaston in 199, England captain Nasser Hussain waved his players from the field mercifully ending a desolate day in the field for the New Zealand team.

Thorpe cracked 28 boundaries and four sixes in his five hours 35 minutes at the crease, delighting the travelling Barmy Army fans, and showcasing his rich array of strokes.

But it could have been all over after just his second delivery when he was dropped by Nathan Astle at second slip on four.

Thorpe's imperious innings took centre-stage but Flintoff greatly impressed with his rumbustious 137, which was studded with 23 fours and three sixes, in 215 minutes.

The pair's partnership surpassed the 240 scored by Peter Parfitt and Barry Knight against New Zealand in Auckland in 1963 as the highest sixth-wicket stand against all Test-playing nations.

England's scoring rate was a blistering 5.5 runs an over - Thorpe and Flintoff blasted 165 runs off 28 overs in the middle session - and with each scoring shot drove another nail into the demoralised Kiwi team's coffin.

The pair came together after the tourist lost three wickets in the extended morning session. England, holding a 144- run lead heading into the third day's play, lost the wickets of first innings centurion Hussain, Mark Butcher and Mark Ramprakash.

The Kiwis went into the day without 197-wicket pace spearhead Chris Cairns, who was unable to bowl because of knee tendon trouble that is likely to keep him out of the remaining two Tests.

But the drop-in pitch, although losing its greenish look of the first couple of days, still provided some early life for the undermanned Kiwi bowling attack.

Chris Drum got Hussain to feather a catch to wicketkeeper Adam Parore for 11 after 25 minutes of play. Butcher was out in unusual circumstances when his back foot dislodged the bails as he set off for a run off Ian Butler and was given out hit wicket for 34.

Ramprakash should have been out when Mark Richardson botched a run out attempt off a Craig McMillan throw, even though he was only metres away from the stumps at the bowler's end.

It was Richardson's second muffed attempt at a run out having missed taking a return throw to dismiss Butcher on Thursday. But Ramprakash was bowled by Drum for 11 leaving England at 106 for five. - AFP

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