Cricket: Flintoff hits out as NZ bowlers struggle

1.20am

LEEDS - England's Andrew Flintoff played the dominant Chris Cairns role as New Zealand's bowlers again missed the boat early on day four of the second cricket test today.

Flintoff punished a wayward New Zealand effort with an unbeaten 53 off 68 balls as the home side reached 352 for five at lunch in reply to New Zealand's first innings of 409.

It left New Zealand with a first innings lead of just 57.

Paceman Chris Martin took the only wicket to fall in the session as England piled on 104 runs. Martin produced a magnificent yorker to skittle Graham Thorpe for 34.

New Zealand weren't consistent enough on a pitch playing more and more variably, while wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum was given a horror time behind the stumps and conceded 21 byes in a total of 48 extras.

Flintoff had some early luck, with substitute Kyle Mills scooping up a catch on the half-volley at mid-on in the day's first over off Scott Styris, who yesterday claimed the big wickets of Marcus Trescothick and Michael Vaughan.

He punished anything loose and reached 50 off 61 balls including seven fours and a hooked six off Martin.

Flintoff and Thorpe added 99 off 146 balls for the fourth wicket.

Daryl Tuffey and Martin struggled to make inroads with the new ball which went for 27 off five overs.

Martin brought up an unwanted century, ending the session with one for 102 off 24 overs.

Scoreboard at lunch on the fourth day of the second cricket test between New Zealand and England at Headingley today:


New Zealand

First innings 409


England

First innings (248-4 overnight)

M Trescothick b Styris 132

A Strauss c Tuffey b Vettori 62

M Butcher lbw b Vettori 4

M Vaughan c Fleming b Styris 13

G Thorpe b Martin 34

A Flintoff not out 53

G Jones not out 6

Extras (21b, 11lb, 3w, 13nb) 48

Total (for 5 wkts, 90 overs) 352

Fall: 153 (Strauss), 174 (Butcher), 229 (Vaughan), 240 (Trescothick), 339 (Thorpe).

Bowling: D Tuffey 16-4-52-0 (1nb), C Martin 24-7-102-1 (4nb, 1w), S Styris 15-4-40-2 (2nb), C Cairns 18-2-66-0 (6nb, 2w), D Vettori 17-0-60-2.

- NZPA