Vaughan century boosts England

Michael Vaughan celebrates reaching his century today

England captain Michael Vaughan led from the front to reach three figures for the sixth time in a Lord’s Test, his 18th at all venues.

Vaughan stubbornly defied some outstanding New Zealand bowling, notably from Chris Martin, to give the hosts a 42-run lead on first innings. He was last out for 106 as England posted 319.

The tourists survived a tense hour in reply to close on 40 without loss, two runs behind, with Aaron Redmond on 14 and Jamie How 26.

Stuart Broad and Vaughan shared a 61-run partnership to put England back on course following Daniel Vettori’s double strike before tea, although a draw seems the most likely result.

Vettori, who finished with 5-69, almost claimed a hat-trick. He removed Paul Collingwood and Tim Ambrose in consecutive deliveries and was inches from finding Broad’s outside edge with his next ball.

England openers Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss both passed fifty before falling in the morning session and Kevin Pietersen went cheaply shortly before lunch. After the interval Martin sent Ian Bell back before Vettori struck.

Resuming on 89 without loss under sunny skies following yesterday’s rain, a Martin no-ball in the third full over of the day brought up Cook and Strauss’ first hundred opening partnership.

But Martin checked England’s progress, removing Cook for 61. New Zealand's premier fast bowler found the left-hander’s outside edge and wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum clung on smartly diving to his left.

Strauss reached his fifty, from 151 deliveries with six fours, when Martin strayed onto the left-hander’s pads allowing him to pick up a single.

He continued to look relatively untroubled until Jacob Oram had him lbw for 63 from over the wicket half an hour before lunch.

Pietersen (three) followed in similar fashion to Vettori - bowling around the wicket - to leave England 160 for three at the interval.

New Zealand applied more pressure after lunch which paid off when Martin sent Bell (16) back with a superb delivery that took the outside edge on the way through to McCullum.

Daniel Vettori has Kevin Pietersen lbw for three

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Vaughan improved the scoring rate with boundaries in three consecutive Tim Southee overs although he survived a close lbw decision off Martin between times. Collingwood also cover drove Southee to the boundary to bring up the 200.

Vettori then took over, having Collingwood caught at by Ross Taylor at first slip for six before Ambrose padded up to the next delivery. Vettori’s hat-trick ball whistled past Broad’s outside edge.

Vaughan glanced Vettori behind square on the leg side to reach his half-century which came off 125 deliveries and included six fours. He produced a sumptuous cover drive off Southee after New Zealand had taken the second new ball.

Martin and Southee were economical after tea until Broad played an impressive trio of cover drives for four - the latter bringing up the fifty partnership with Vaughan off 113 balls.

Not to be outdone, the skipper hit Vettori for consecutive fours down the ground in the next over but Broad went immediately after, playing on for 25 to an Oram delivery that jagged back.

Sidebottom’s first scoring shot, a clip off his legs for three, edged England in front on first innings and he continued to show prowess the bat before Vaughan brought up his century, from 204 balls including 11 fours, by clipping Vettori for four through square leg.

Sidebottom (16) and Monty Panesar (nought) went soon after, caught at slip and short-leg respectively, before Vaughan holed out to James Marshall at deep square-leg to become Vettori’s fifth victim. James Anderson was unbeaten on nought.

Anderson and Sidebottom forced Redmond to wait until the fifth over for his first Test runs but Vaughan soon turned to Broad and Panesar - the latter having a loud lbw shout against the debutant turned down.

Broad gave way to Sidebottom but England could not make the breakthrough they sought.