Cricket: Fleming reaches third double-ton

Stephen Fleming

New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming notched the third double-century of his first-class cricket career today after his Surrey opponents were penalised for ball tampering at The Oval in London.

Fleming cracked 238 off 236 balls for his Nottinghamshire team, including 28 fours and five sixes, before he was bowled by former England paceman Martin Bicknell early on the third day of their county championship match.

Fleming added just 15 to his overnight score before being seventh out with Notts' total at 620 in reply to Surrey's first innings of 217.

The eight-hour epic was Fleming's 26th first-class century but just his third double-ton, after his 274 not out against Sri Lanka in Colombo in 2003 and his 202 against Bangladesh in Chittagong last year.

Fleming's knock was overshadowed when the umpires penalised Surrey five runs for allegedly interfering with the ball.

Umpires Nigel Llong and Merv Kitchen enforced law 42.3 "on unfair play by altering the condition of the ball" for only the second time since its introduction in 2001, although they were unable to identify any culprit.

They noticed that the quarter-seam on the ball had been lifted, and Fleming was given a choice of six replacement balls to select.

Yesterday he scored 99 runs before lunch and hit three sixes -- all off Nayan Doshi -- and 13 fours in reaching his century.

After a rain break Fleming flayed the Surrey bowling, getting to his double-hundred in 202 balls and putting on 176 in 25 overs with David Hussey for the third wicket.

Fleming, who struggled against Australian pacemen Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath at home this summer, made an ordinary start to his Notts season last month, scoring nought and one in his opening first-class match against former team Middlesex.

But today's was his second consecutive century after his 111 against Sussex in Nottingham.

Former Nottinghamshire captain Jason Gallian helped Fleming add 206 for the second wicket with 141 while Darren Bicknell, once a Surrey stalwart, scored 91 and Hussey 74 as both teams looked to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.

- NZPA