Cricket: Astle, Bell put NZ in box seat England fight to survive

MANCHESTER -- Nathan Astle and Matthew Bell tightened New Zealand's grip on the third cricket test at Old Trafford with a fabulous third-wicket partnership of 153 runs yesterday. Astle hit his fifth test century (101) and his second against England, while Bell came of age as a test cricketer with a meticulous 83 to break England's spirit.

Their sparkling stand shattered England's hopes of bouncing back after their soul-destroying test loss at Lord's last month.

At stumps yesterday, New Zealand were 399 for six, with a commanding lead of 200 runs with two days left to play to nail England.

New Zealand cannot conceivably lose this match now, while England can only hope to draw it.

An announcer glumly reported just before tea that the New Zealand innings was the highest by a New Zealand team at Old Trafford.

The late Cyril Washbrook, whose death was marked by a joint team memorial ceremony before the start of play, would have had the dignity to acknowledge that New Zealand are outplaying England in every respect. It was a splendid day for the Kiwis and the third-wicket stand lifted them to a higher plateau of entertainment and quality than a tormented England side.

Astle batted with power and control to herald his standing as one of the most attacking middle-order batsmen in test cricket.

He was eventually caught trying to hook Andy Caddick on the ball after he had brought up his first test hundred in England and the third on tour.

His 175-ball innings included eight fours and three towering sixes on one of the biggest test grounds. It was fitting that his bubbly century was recorded in his 50th test innings.

For Bell, his 344-minute innings was testament to his determination and the sacrifice he has made since suffering a debilitating stomach virus suffered last year.

Dunedin-born Bell was gripped with stomach cramps, dehydration, and could not hold down his food last summer after picking up a bug in Dacca or Kuala Lumpur. He was so ill he could not play in the third test against South Africa. Through a series of referrals to various medical experts, Bell was diagnosed as suffering from a tropical virus and nutritionists put him on a strict diet to ensure he did not suffer a recurrence.

He had not surpassed 30 runs in eight innings on tour but showed yesterday that he is New Zealand's most promising test opener since Glenn Turner. Bell's patient maiden test half-century took 158 balls. With all the fluency in the world from Astle, their 50 partnership came off 113 balls, the 100-stand arrived off 210 and the 150 partnership off 290.

Their stand, a record against England on this ground, ended after 297 balls when Bell tried to hook Dean Headley but only skied it to Michael Atherton at mid-on.

Bell's marathon 224-ball innings lasted 16 minutes short of six hours and included seven boundaries.

He was disappointed at missing out on a century but he had done his job for the team by guiding his side through to 263 for three.

Later in the day when the sun finally shone Cairns and McMillan profited, each hitting a pair of sixes as McMillan brought up his seventh test half-century.- NZPA