Sport

New Zealand faces imposing target

WELLINGTON: England held a near impregnable lead of 421 runs in the second cricket Test against New Zealand as it reached 277 for nine at stumps on the third day here on Saturday. The margin is already ahead of the current record winning fourth innings total in the history of Test cricket of 418.

When Paul Collingwood fell in the final over of the day, England did not immediately declare, indicating it wanted to score as many runs as possible on the fourth morning before the last wicket falls.

Collingwood, who posted his second half-century of the match reaching 59 before he was trapped in front by Mark Gillespie, has been central to England’s bid to even the series after New Zealand won the first Test.

Alastair Cook’s 60, 44 from Andrew Strauss and 41 from Ian Bell were the only other notable performances in the second innings.

England, which had a 144-run lead on the first innings, started the day at four without loss and went through to lunch with the solitary loss of Michael Vaughan for 13.

Cook, who hit the first six of his 26-Test career, put on 106 runs with Strauss for the second wicket before both were dismissed early in the afternoon session.

Cook pushed forward to Kyle Mills and nicked the ball to Stephen Fleming at first slip and Strauss was leg-before to Jacob Oram in the following over. Oram finished the day with three for 44 off 20 overs.

New Zealand, however, remained confident it could chase down the target of more than 420 runs to wrap up the second Test and series. New Zealand has twice scored more than 400 in a fourth innings, but lost both matches.

“We feel a tick over 400 is definitely gettable,” Kyle Mills told reporters. “There’s so much time left in the match.”

England remained just as confident but was more than aware of the length of time remaining in the gameand the home side’s aggressive batting line-up, all-rounder Paul Collingwood said.

“The thing is there are still two days left in the game, and plenty of time to bowl them out but also plenty of time for them to get the runs,” said Collingwood.

New Zealand all-rounder Jacob Oram was fined 20 per cent of his match fee on Saturday for showing dissent at his dismissal. Match Referee Javagal Srinath found Oram guilty as the latter looked at his bat first and then punched it as he left the field after Australian umpire Steve Davis adjudged him leg before wicket to Ryan Sidebottom on the second day of the match. — Agencies

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