Hussain silences critics as England nail New Zealand
LONDON, May 24: Former England captain Nasser Hussain stroked his 14th Test century to guide the hosts to an ultimately untroubled seven-wicket win over New Zealand in the first Test at Lord's on Monday.
Hussain, already under pressure to retain his place after a lean West Indies tour, atoned for an inexplicable error of judgment when he ran out Andrew Strauss for 83 to score an unbeaten 103 in England's total of 282 for three, which gave them a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
He was partnered in an unbeaten fourth-wicket partnership of 139 by England's other most experienced batsman, Graham Thorpe, who scored 51 not out, his 35th Test half-century.
The victory, with eight overs to spare, was only the third by a side chasing more than 200 to win a Test at Lord's and represented a fourth win in five matches for England after their recent 3-0 victory in West Indies.
There was only one sour note for the home side on a fifth consecutive sunny day, with the needless runout that denied Strauss the chance to make history by becoming the first England player to score a century in each innings on his debut.
Strauss, a late replacement for injured captain Michael Vaughan, departed disconsolately when Hussain called him for an impossible single after dabbing the ball into the covers.
The Middlesex opener, who was named Man-of-the-Match, scored 112 in the first innings to become only the second Englishman to score a debut century at cricket's headquarters.
The pair added 108 for the third wicket after England had lost acting captain Marcus Trescothick (two) and Mark Butcher (six) in the morning session. Left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori, the tourists' potential match-winner, bowled a series of short spells from both ends and was unlucky not to get an early wicket when Butcher appeared to glove a catch to Mark Richardson diving forward at short-leg.
But what little turn he gained was slow and he was reduced to coming over the wicket in an attempt to land the ball in the bowlers' foot marks. Hussain, who should earn a coveted 100th Test cap this year, battled with his usual grim determination at the start, using his feet well to Vettori to drive through the covers and sweeping to good effect.
His second Test century against New Zealand and third at Lord's contained 15 fours and was scored off 204 balls. Thorpe nudged the ball into the gaps and pulled strongly off the back foot, reaching his 50 with six fours.
Daryl Tuffey gave New Zealand early hope after England resumed on eight for no wicket. He claimed his first wicket of the match when Trescothick pushed the first ball of his third over of the morning straight back up the pitch and the bowler lurched to his right to grab the ball with both hands.
Butcher played a loose slash at the third ball of Martin's opening over for Stephen Fleming to take a fine two-handed catch at first slip, and England had plenty to think about when they took lunch at 87 for two.
Strauss and Hussain calmed their nerves, though, with a century partnership off 121 deliveries before Hussain attempted an impossible single off the first ball of the 50th over from Martin.
Strauss belatedly set off but never had any chance of making his ground as Chris Cairns raced in from cover and lobbed the ball to wicket-keeper Brendon McCullum. The opener had stroked 13 fours from 171 deliveries in another composed, mature innings featuring some excellent cover-driving.
