Cricket: Fleming century leads way but England fight back

7.15am - By MARK GEENTY

NOTTINGHAM - New Zealand cricket captain Stephen Fleming showed his displeasure at England's series whitewash plans, but that man Stephen Harmison struck back to turn a great day into just a good one for the tourists.

Fleming dominated the England attack today for his seventh test century on an excellent Trent Bridge batting strip as the tourists posted 295 for four on day one of the third test.

His 117 off 198 balls was the captain's first century in 17 test innings in England stretching back 10 years, and his first as a test opener.

Backed up by Mark Richardson's 73 and a slick unbeaten 68 from Scott Styris, it gave the injury-hit and deflated tourists a sound base to give Chris Cairns a memorable send-off and deny England their cherished 3-0 whitewash which hasn't happened since 1978.

But England lessened the damage with dangerman Harmison's lethal 20th over when he removed Nathan Astle and Craig McMillan in successive deliveries with the second new ball with New Zealand poised on 272 for two.

A still satisfied Fleming said 500 was the bare minimum total on the best pitch of the series.

"It's in the balance, although if you'd said yesterday we'd be 300 for four at end of day one there wouldn't be too many captains turn that down," Fleming said.

"With the batting we've still got to come we're pretty happy, but we've been in some happy spaces in this tour and come up with nought. We've got work to do."

After the Headingley horrors of less than a week ago it generally went New Zealand's way today, even the umpiring with Australians Daryl Harper and Simon Taufel displaying, what a cynic might suggest, was admirable Anzac spirit.

Fleming called correctly at the coin toss and four hours later, it was 163 without loss as he and Richardson compiled their first century stand.

Fleming was lethal off his pads through square leg while Richardson unleashed some superb cover drives as the swing and variable bounce wasn't there for England's pacemen who caused carnage at Headingley.

Richardson had some luck, dropped at short leg by Andrew Strauss on five; seemingly caught behind on 16 off Matthew Hoggard; and leg before wicket to Harmison on 54 but somehow Harper and Taufel thought not.

The partnership only ended when Richardson, conscious of ticking the scoring rate along, charged at spinner Ashley Giles and chipped a catch to short mid-on.

New Zealand's man of the series hit 11 fours in another invaluable 208-minute, 169-ball knock.

Fleming had his own lucky let-off on 64 when he didn't offer a shot to Andrew Flintoff and was hit dead in front but Taufel was unmoved.

Otherwise it was a blemish-free Fleming who hoisted Giles for six over mid-wicket, cruised into the nervous 90s then reached 100 by lofting paceman Martin Saggers over the backward square leg boundary.

Just over a year after his record 274 not out against Sri Lanka, another big hundred beckoned but Fleming lost his way after tea, bogged down by Harmison and Giles before a false drive off Flintoff offered an edge to third slip.

He batted 280 minutes and hit 14 fours and two sixes.

Styris was promoted to No 3 and it worked the oracle for him after struggling for 44 runs in four test innings and calling on New Zealand great Martin Crowe for advice.

Astle batted 56 minutes for 15 before he chopped Harmison on then McMillan, after missing Headingley with a re-broken finger, was trapped in front first ball and Taufel gave his first decision in England's favour.

Styris wafted at the hat-trick ball next over but it was a rare false stroke as he cracked nine fours in his innings, passing 50 for the first time on tour.

New Zealand

First innings

M Richardson c Vaughan b Giles 73

S Fleming c Thorpe b Flintoff 117

S Styris not out 68

N Astle b Harmison 15

C McMillan lbw b Harmison 0

J Oram not out 10

Extras (2b, 8lb, 2nb) 12

Total (for 4 wkts, 90 overs) 295

Fall: 163 (Richardson), 225 (Fleming), 272 (Astle), 272 (McMillan).

Bowling: M Hoggard 16-4-61-0 (1nb), S Harmison 23-6-59-2, A Flintoff 12-2-41-1, M Saggers 14-3-58-0 (1nb), A Giles 24-5-61-1, M Vaughan 1-0-5-0.

- NZPA