QUEENSTOWN (New Zealand), March 2: England crashed to 82 for six against lowly Otago on a rain-affected first day of their opening Test tour match Saturday.
Otago, bottom of the New Zealand state championship, tore through the top order after putting England in on a green wicket and in swinging conditions.
To complete England’s misery, the match started two-and-a-half-hours late due to wet conditions and ended early as the rain returned.
At one stage England, looking to get some much-needed practice before the three-match Test series against New Zealand, lost five wickets for 23 runs, change bowlers Craig Pryor taking three for 29 and left-armer David Sewell two for 10 off eight overs.
They made the breakthrough after left-handers Mark Butcher and Marcus Trescothick put on 32 for the opening wicket before Butcher, with a top-score of 20, was trapped leg before off the last ball of Pryor’s first over.
Soon after, Trescothick was caught by Pryor at first slip off Sewell to leave England on 39 for two.
After a 25-minute rain break, Thorpe was taken by a brilliant Nathan McCullum catch at second slip as the procession began in earnest.
ENGLAND (1st Innings):
M.A. Butcher lbw b Pryor 20
M.E. Trescothick c Pryor b Sewell 6
G.P. Thorpe c McCullum b Sewell 11
M.R. Ramprakash b Pryor 1
U. Afzaal c Drew b Pryor 0
A. Flintoff c Drew b McMillan 16
W.K. Hegg not out 8
C. White not out 6
EXTRAS (LB-4, W-2, NB-8) 14
TOTAL (for six wkts, 30.1 overs) 82
FALL OF WKTS: 1-32, 2-39, 3-50, 4-50, 5-55, 6-69.
TO BAT: J. Ormond, A.R. Caddick, R.K.J. Dawson.
BOWLING (to-date): Walmsley 7.1-1-21-0 (3nb); McMillan 7-2-18-1 (1nb, 1w); Sewell 8-5-10-2 (1w); Pryor 8-0-29-3 (4nb).—Reuters