Fleming century leads way but England fight back
From Stuff, 11 June 2004
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 overnight 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 overnight, 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.
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