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Change Your Life! |
Hick's century puts England in command at Lord's |
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News |
May 21, 2000 LONDON,
MAY 20 (AP) - Graeme Hick hammered a fine century and shared a record
156-run fourth wicket stand with Alec Stewart to put England in command of
the first cricket test against Zimbabwe at Lord's Saturday.
England, propped by Hick's 101 and Stewart's plucky unbeaten 59, was 269 for four at lunch on the third day with a commanding lead of 186 runs. Zimbabwe sent into bat on the first day was skittled out for 83 runs. Nick Knight, who came in for 12 minutes before the break was yet to score. Hick,
returning to the England side after missing the winter test series in
South Africa, batted brilliant on his way to his sixth test hundred in his
55th test.
It
was his first century in six tests since the 107 against Sri Lanka at the
Oval over a 21-month period.
Dropped
on 55 on the second day, Hick, made maximum use of some disheartened
bowling to race to his century after resuming the day on 62.
Stuck
on 99 for 25 minutes and 14 balls, Hick, reached a well deserved century
with a two runs to mid-wicket, but off the very next ball was trapped leg
before wicket by fast medium bowler Heath Streak, armed with the second
new ball.
Hick's innings lasted four and a half hours and included 13 boundaries off 197 balls.
A
contentious decision by third umpire John Holder gave Stewart a reprieve
and robbed Zimbabwe of an early wicket in the morning. An inconclusive
television footage forced Holder to turn down what looked like a straight
forward edge to wicketkeeper Andy Flower off swing bowler Neil Johnson.
Umpires
Peter Willey and his South African colleague Dave Orchard referred the
decision to Holder after Flower fell foward claiming the catch.
On the first day Flower dropped opener Mark Ramprakash, but dropping Hick off Johnson on the second day proved costly.
Stewart,
made Zimbabwe pay as he hit 12 fours in his 197-minute stay
at the crease.
Johnson,
with his wily swing troubled the two England batsman but the
support from the other end wasn't forthcoming to have any impact on the
batting until the second new ball became available.
Streak,
Zimbabwe's only successful bowler finished with 4-49 in 28 overs.
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