06 June 2004	Sunday	17 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

LEEDS, June 5: Marcus Trescothick's unbeaten 78 took England to 164 for one, a deficit of 245, in reply to New Zealand's first innings 409 at tea on the third day of the second Test at Headingley here on Saturday.

Trescothick put on 153 in 38 overs for the first wicket with fellow left-hander Andrew Strauss.

But Middlesex captain Strauss, who made a century on his debut in England's seven-wicket first Test victory at Lord's, fell tamely when he holed out against left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori for 62. Mark Butcher was four not out.

England captain Michael Vaughan, who left the field early on Friday to be with his pregnant wife was next man due in and after returning for the start of Saturday's play following the birth of his daughter, Tallulah.

At lunch England were 21 without loss, 388 behind, with Trescothick on 16 and Strauss yet to get off the mark.

Seamer Chris Martin, had an lbw shout against Strauss, on five, turned down.

Strauss also survived a huge appeal for caught behind off medium-pacer Scott Styris when on 13 and when England were 53 without loss.

Both left-handers scored briskly against a New Zealand attack lacking the express pace of Shane Bond - declared unfit for the first two Tests while recovering from a back injury - and the bounce of Jacob Oram.

The giant all-rounder was in the team but not bowling because of a side strain and the fit members of New Zealand's pace attack too often gave the batsmen width.

Trescothick reached fifty off 79 balls including eight fours with a three off all-rounder Chris Cairns.

The stroke also brought up the 100 partnership in 152 balls. It was Trescothick and Strauss's second century stand after they put on 190 at Lord's.

New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming responded by bringing on left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori.

In Vettori's next over Strauss advanced down the pitch and lofted him for four to long-on.

Then came Strauss's lapse in concentration, a miscued sweep off Vettori lobbing gently to Daryl Tuffey at mid-wicket.

Strauss, who had made his third Test fifty in as many innings after 112 and 83 at Lord's, faced 114 balls with seven fours.

New Zealand, who resumed on 351 for six, saw their last four wickets add a further 58 runs.

England fast bowler Stephen Harmison took four for 74 as New Zealand lost their last three wickets on 409.

McCullum followed up his first Test 96 with 54 and Vettori's brisk 35 frustrated England before he was last man out, bowled by Harmison.

Scoreboard

NEW ZEALAND (1st Innings, overnight 351-6):

M.H. Richardson b Saggers 13

M.H.W. Papps lbw b Flintoff 86

S.P. Fleming c Vaughan b Harmison 97

N.J. Astle c Butcher b Saggers 2

S.B. Styris c Jones b Harmison 21

J.D.P. Oram c Thorpe b Flintoff 39

C.L. Cairns c Strauss b Harmison 41

B.B. McCullum b Hoggard 54

D.L. Vettori b Harmison 35

D.R. Tuffey lbw b Hoggard 0

C.S. Martin not out 0

EXTRAS (B-5, LB-14, W-2) 21

TOTAL (all out, 143.2 overs) 409

FALL OF WKTS: 1-33, 2-202, 3-215, 4-215, 5-263, 6-293, 7-355, 8-409, 9-409.

BOWLING: Hoggard 27-6-93-2; Harmison 36.2-8-74-4 (1w); Flintoff 27-7-64-2; Saggers 30-6-86-2 (1w); Trescothick 2-0-3-0; Giles 19-1-67-0; Vaughan 2-0-3-0.

ENGLAND (1st Innings):

M.E. Trescothick not out 78

A.J. Strauss c Tuffey b Vettori 62

M.A. Butcher not out 4

EXTRAS (B-8, LB-5, NB-7) 20

TOTAL (for one wkt, 42 overs) 164

FALL OF WKT: 1-153.

TO BAT: M.P. Vaughan, G.P. Thorpe, A. Flintoff, G.O. Jones, A.F. Giles, M.J. Hoggard, S.J. Harmison, M.J. Saggers.

BOWLING (to-date): Tuffey 11-3-34-0; Martin 10-2-49-0; Styris 4-1-10-0; Cairns 8-2-27-0; Vettori 9-0-31-1.-Agencies