Cricket: Cairns gets one last five-bag

An emotional Chris Cairns wound back the clock here today as he demanded the ball from captain Stephen Fleming and raced in for one extra five-wicket bag in test cricket.

Cairns, a day out from his 34th birthday, took his 13th bag of five in his 62-test career with five for 79 as New Zealand took a first innings lead of 65 over England in the third test.

After three days the match was again finely in the balance, with New Zealand 190 for five in their second innings for an overall lead of 255 as they try to avoid a 0-3 whitewash.

If ever New Zealand needed Cairns to step up, they did today in his final test of a 15-year career.

Chris Martin was sidelined with a hamstring strain and debutant Kyle Mills with a rib injury, and Cairns was suddenly New Zealand's strikeforce as he was at his peak five years ago.

"When Scott Styris got Jones out, it was eight down, and a couple of overs till the new ball I said to Flem, 'just let me bowl'," Cairns said after skittling tailender Stephen Harmison for his first five-bag in 2-1/2 years since taking seven for 53 against Bangladesh in Hamilton.

"We've got nobody else, but it felt right to be doing that again. Bowling slower balls and variety, I've always looked for wickets.

"It was nice to have the new ball back in hand. I'd resigned myself to a support role for the rest of my career, the pace just isn't there anymore."

Being at Trent Bridge, his cricketing home for eight seasons, brought some mist to his eye as he removed his black cap and saluted his uncle Barry Roberts from Blenheim among the packed house of 15,000.

"I was pretty emotional when I got my five wickets. I was really stoked that he got to see that and I just hope like heck we have a win."

The locals didn't take long to acknowledge the fact and his name was painted on the pavilion honours board less than an hour after the deed was done.

His memorable wicket was that of England captain Michael Vaughan, trapped in front by a special Cairns slower ball for 61 late on day two.

Cairns got valuable support from left-armer James Franklin who was racing with his senior statesman for the final wicket before ending with four for 104 off 26 overs.

It was a memorable return for the Wellingtonian, 23, who last played a test three years ago against Pakistan and a week ago was playing Lancashire league cricket for Rishton.

Having nicked out left-handers Mark Butcher and Marcus Trescothick on day two he added another big scalp of Graham Thorpe for 45, dubiously given out caught behind down the leg side.

At last, New Zealand claimed a first innings in the series after letting England off the hook at Lord's and Headingley.

England began the day still 159 behind and New Zealand finished them off just before lunch as their last five wickets fell for 75, with Ashley Giles hitting an unbeaten 45.

Then with the pitch starting to play more tricks and the ball keeping low, New Zealand were teetering at 134 for four before Craig McMillan and Franklin guided them to stumps.

Andrew Flintoff took two wickets in five balls, removing Stephen Fleming leg before wicket not offering a shot for 45 then Nathan Astle also lbw without scoring.

It ended a fluctuating comeback series for Astle, who after his 64 and 49 at Lord's scored 25 runs from his next four innings.

Fleming and Mark Richardson put on their second big opening stand of the match, 94 to go with their 163 in the first innings.

A breezy Richardson raced ahead of Fleming with eight fours in his 49, but left-arm spinner Giles trapped him in front after dropping him at gully on 41.

Still, it ended another big series for New Zealand's standout Richardson, who totalled 21 hours and 53 minutes at the crease, scoring 369 runs at 61.5.

Styris and McMillan looked set to take it to stumps before Friday centurymaker Styris was given out for 39 to a poor caught behind decision from umpire Simon Taufel, when replays showed he missed the ball.

- NZPA