The Hindu : New Zealand squares series

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Apr 04, 2002

Sport

Sport - Cricket

New Zealand squares series

England captain Nasser Hussain (L) and New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming (R) hold the trophy after New Zealand won the third Test in Auckland on Wednesday. — AFP

AUCKLAND April 3. New Zealand claimed only its third home Test victory over England with a spirited 78-run win to square the series in the third cricket Test at Eden Park here on Wednesday.

Set 312 runs to win on the last day, England was dismissed for 233 with captain Nasser Hussain scoring a fighting 82 in 167 minutes before he became the eighth wicket to fall.

The Kiwis, who lost the first Christchurch Test by 98 runs, fought back from 19 for four on Saturday's opening day to claim a famous victory after holding a 42-run innings lead.

New Zealand's heroes were Daryl Tuffey and Test newcomer Andre Adams whose wickets proved decisive on a compelling last day's play after only a total of 82 overs were possible on the first three weather-affected days.

Tuffey, who claimed Test career-best six for 54 in the first innings, set up the Kiwi triumph with three for 62, including a sensational two wickets of three balls just before lunch.

Adams ended England's last hope of victory when he brought off a diving catch off his own bowling to dismiss Hussain after the England captain had threatened to hold his team's innings together and push for victory.

Adams, brought in for his first Test in his home city, also claimed the scalp of wicketkeeper James Foster to end a stubborn 49-run seventh-wicket partnership with Hussain.

Skipper Stephen Fleming declared at New Zealand's overnight second innings total of 269 for nine leaving England an enticing target to chase and giving his bowlers enough overs to dismiss Hussain's team.

A pivotal stage of the final day was Tuffey's dismissals of England's premier batsman Graham Thorpe and danger man Andy Flintoff in three balls before lunch.

Thorpe feathered a catch to Adam Parore to be out for three and in the same over Tuffey stunned Flintoff when the ball clipped the top of his leading pad and was bowled for a duck.

Mark Butcher was out minutes before Thorpe when he was surprised by one that spat off the pitch from Nathan Astle and was caught at point for 35.

England, which had begun positively in its run chase, slumped from 122 for two to 125 for five in the space of eight balls. At lunch, England was 154 for five with skipper Nasser Hussain unbeaten on 58 off 62 balls and Mark Ramprakash not out two and 158 runs from victory.

Tuffey struck again in his first over after lunch bowling Ramprakash for two. He squared up Ramprakash and beat the outside edge of the bat before collecting off stump.

Foster put on 49 runs with Hussain before he tickled an outswinger to Parore off Adams. Foster, who has batted well during the series, scored 23 dogged runs from 62 balls with four boundaries.

His dismissal left England 108 runs short of victory.

Adams claimed Hussain's wicket and the end was near for England. Andy Caddick went out to a slog at mid-on off Chris Drum for four and Adams got the final wicket of Matthew Hoggard caught at slip by Astle for two. Ashley Giles remained 21 not out off 27 balls.

England opened the run chase positively, scoring briskly and losing both openers, Marcus Trescothick and Michael Vaughan, in the first hour to be 73 for two.

Drum, playing in his last Test, snared both wickets, Trescothick for 14 and Vaughan 36 off 42 balls. — AFP

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