Mark Richardson and Brendon McCallum combined in an unbroken 118-run second wicket stand to help New Zealand to 134 for 1 in its second innings against England on the third day of the first test at Lord's.
New Zealand had a 79 run lead on Saturday after England finished its first innings at 441 by tea, helped by a 105-run seventh wicket stand by Andrew Flintoff and Geraint Jones. New Zealand finished its first innings on 386 on Friday.
New Zealand's first wicket fell quickly after tea, with Nasser Hussain holding a splendid low left-handed catch at short square leg off Steve Harmison to dismiss Stephen Fleming for four.
With Nathan Astle suffering from flu, McCallum was promoted up the order and did an admirable job. He had a fine partnership with Richardson, who was unlucky in the first innings to have missed a century by just seven runs after a long innings.
"To get the opportunity of batting at No.3 at Lord's is something very special, I wouldn't be turning that down," McCallum said. "I wanted to do well especially after missing out in the first innings. I wanted to make an impression."
McCallum and Richardson went past the highest stand for the second wicket for New Zealand against England at Lord's. McCallum will start Sunday on 72, with Richardson on 46.
McCallum said Sunday's morning session would determine the match.
"The morning session in these three days has made quite an impact on the game," he said. "Hopefully if we can manage to get through the tough period in the first hour, hour and a half then may be we will be [in the driving seat]."
The two complemented each other, with Richardson batting in his typical defensive manner and McCallum playing more attacking strokes. Inevitably McCallum raced ahead with his individual score.
The one beautiful shot from Richardson was a classic cover drive off Simon Jones which took him to 21. By then, his partner had reached his third half century in seven test innings, from only 54 balls and had 8 hits to the boundary.
The hundred of the innings came after 27.3 overs, the second 50 taking only 11 overs with McCallum's strokeplay.
In a rare display of aggression Richardson then stepped out to loft Ashley Giles for four to mid off.
Earlier, England was dismissed for 441 just before tea. The entertaining century partnership for the seventh wicket between Geraint Jones and Flintoff was the highest for England against New Zealand at Lord's.
England had started the day on 246 for two but lost four wickets before lunch.
Mark Butcher fell for 26 after only six runs had been added to the overnight total.
Spinner Daniel Vettori had Butcher caught behind off a thin edge as he reached well outside his off stump in the fifth over.
Matthew Hoggard occupied the crease for nearly an hour and a half before Jacob Oram had him caught behind as he went defensively on the back foot for 15, taking England to 288 for 4.
Nine runs later, Chris Cairns bowled Graham Thorpe for three as the batsman edged the ball into his stumps.
Shortly before lunch, on 311, Chris Martin bowled Hussain for 34 with a ball that came in sharply to hit the middle
After England had reached 330 for six at lunch, Flintoff and Jones settled at the crease.
Flintoff had a typically hard-hitting innings of 63 from 85 balls, with Jones adding 46 runs.
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