Hick, Stewart hit centuries; England in command

LONDON, MAY 20. Graeme hick's sixth Test century in his first innings against Zimbabwe put England in a strong position on the third day of the first of two Tests at Lord's today.

Hick's 101 had helped England to a lead of 186 and later it was expanded to 293 by Alec Stewart who is going strong with 115. At the time of going to press England was 376 for 5.

On 24, Stewart gloved an attempted pull off Neil Johnson down the legside with the score on 199 for three.

Zimbabwe captain and wicketkeeper Andy Flower claimed the catch but Stewart stood his ground, unsure the ball had been cleanly taken. Third umpire John Holder ruled in the batsman's favour.

Hick was particularly severe on Mpumelelo Mbangwa. On 87 he casually flicked Mbangwa over midwicket for four.

Then he was lucky to see the ball go off the inside edge past the wicketkeeper for four after he tried to cut a ball that was too close to him.

Hick then repeated his lofted mid-wicket shot to go to 99.

Johnson bowled a bouncer and hick had to endure a torrid comeback over from streak, who beat the Outside edge and then had an appeal for caught behind rejected by umpire Peter Willey. TV replays suggested Hick had hit his pad with his bat.

Left-arm quick Bryan Strang initially struggled. In his first over of the day Stewart pulled from outside off-stump and then forced him through the offside for his eleventh boundary to bring up his fifty off 129 balls.

Streak, who for much of this match has carried the Zimbabwe attack single-handed, bowled accurately with the second new ball.

More than anyone he ensured Hick spent nine balls on 99 before the batsman clipped him for two to bring up his century off 196 balls with 13 fours. But the next ball kept low and Hick was plumb lbw.

His stand of 149 with Stewart was an England record partnership against Zimbabwe surpassing the 148 fifth wicket effort shared by Nasser Hussain and John Crawley at Bulawayo in 1996-97.

- AFP

Zimbabwe two for one

LONDON, MAY 20. Zimbabwe was two for one in its second innings after dismissing England for 415 in its first innings. The batsmen out was Grant Flower (2). Trevor Gripper and Murray Goodwin were at the crease, both yet to open their account.

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