Alastair Cook hits 153 not out as England build 295-run lead
Tuesday 26 May 2015 12:38, UK
Ben Stokes smashed the fastest Test ton at Lord’s and Alastair Cook hit 150 as England reached 429-6 at stumps on day four of the first Test against New Zealand, with a lead of 295.
Stokes’ hundred came off 85 balls, pummelling 15 fours, and three sixes – all of which were in two Tim Southee overs which went for a combined 37 runs.
Southee (2-129) had earlier grabbed the wicket of Ian Bell (29) with the third ball of the day as England resumed day four on 74-2, still 60 behind.
But Cook and Joe Root (84) put on 158 runs together to push England into a lead and set the platform for Stokes’ late assault.
It wasn’t how the day seemed to be heading when Bell – looking to be positive on the drive like he was the previous evening – edged a full outswinging delivery in Southee’s first over.
It was one of three maidens to start the day as both Southee and Trent Boult piled on the pressure with a probing full – if a little wide – length.
Cook left well, although the odd ball was perhaps a little close for comfort, while Root’s downfall almost came when on just three, with a flick to the fielder at square leg. But he didn’t know if he had taken the catch cleanly and the third umpire decided the ball had touched the turf.
The pair were able to capitalise when Southee and Boult were eventually brought out of the attack, making light work of offspinner Mark Craig (1-96) in particular.
Soon after passing fifty, Cook cashed in on some short and wide offerings with back-to-back boundaries off Craig’s first over, cutting one through point and pulling the other over midwicket to eradicate New Zealand’s first innings lead and push England ahead.
Root then got in on the act with two fours in one over – a slog-sweep over midwicket and a flick to fine leg – taking him through to his second fifty of the match.
Boult had a belated lbw shout against the yorkshireman in the final over before lunch but the ball was a little bit too high and shown to be only clipping the stumps, so it stayed with the umpire's call of not out.
Cook and Root picked up where they left off after the interval as Craig continued to be punished at one end, meaning Boult’s control at the other could create little pressure.
Searching for inspiration, McCullum turned back to Southee, with men out deep on the legside to try and encourage Root into a rash pull.
Root took on the challenge and cracked him away for four, but when Matt Henry (2-106) adopted the same ploy a few overs later, he was less fortunate and sent it straight to Boult at fine leg.
Cook was on 98 at the other end and although the wicket and McCullum bringing in a heavy off-side field added to the pressure on the England captain, he drove Henry down the ground for three to bring up his hundred to huge cheers from the Lord’s crowd.
Stokes (101) showed intent before tea, cracking five boundaries – including three in a row off one Henry over – but it was after the interval where he did the most damage.
He drove beautifully down the ground throughout his innings, including three off one Southee over which signalled the onslaught to come.
Southee had a strong lbw shout against Cook turned down, as although it was shown to be hitting the stumps, it struck the Essex left-hander just outside the line of off-stump.
Southee’s day only got worse thereafter as Stokes smashed his next two overs for 37 to take him out of the attack.
The bowling change mattered little to Stokes, who brought up his hundred in two fewer deliveries than Mohammad Azharuddin’s 87-ball record at Lord’s, signalling wild celebrations – and a Marlon Samuels-inspired salute from Root – on the England balcony.
Craig made the eventual breakthrough, as Stokes sent an outside edge off a slog-sweep to slip.
Jos Buttler added 14 before becoming Henry’s second victim, and Mooen Ali is 19 not out going into day five. The captain meanwhile is unbeaten on 153, but surely with thoughts of a declaration soon to be on his mind.
